South Korea Advances in World Cup Qualifiers Despite Star's Absence; Lee Hyun-jung Stars in Summer League

South Korean basketball standout Lee Hyun-jung is making a strong case for an NBA future, delivering a career-best performance in the NBA Summer League. Playing against the Utah Jazz, Lee poured in a Summer League high of 22 points, leading his team to a decisive 94-82 win. This performance comes as Lee, who signed a Summer League contract with the San Antonio Spurs, continues to chase his dream of playing in the NBA.

Lee's impressive scoring display follows a stellar season in Japan's B.League, where he averaged 17.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. His exceptional three-point shooting, with a 47.9% success rate during the regular season, and his crucial contributions in the championship series, where he averaged 19.4 points and 6.7 rebounds to help Nagasaki Velca secure their first-ever league title, earned him the B.League Finals MVP award and recognition as the league's Best Asian Foreign Player.

His current pursuit of an NBA contract led him to miss the first round of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers. Although South Korea initially faltered, losing a 19-point lead against Taiwan, they ultimately secured qualification for the second round. Lee's absence was felt, but the team managed to defeat Japan and advance, joining Japan and China in the next stage of qualification, demonstrating the team's resilience.