Park Chan-hee (basketball)

Park Chan-hee (born April 17, 1987) is a South Korean basketball player for Wonju DB Promy and the South Korean national team.

Park Chan-hee
No. 1 – Wonju DB Promy
PositionGuard
LeagueKorean Basketball League
Personal information
Born (1987-04-17) April 17, 1987 (age 37)
Yeosu, South Korea
NationalitySouth Korean
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight191 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High schoolKyungbock
CollegeKyung Hee University
Playing career2010–present
Career history
2010–2016Anyang KT&G Kites / Anyang KGC
2012–2014Sangmu
2016–2021Incheon Electroland Elephants
2021–presentWonju DB Promy
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  South Korea
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2014 Incheon Team
Silver medal – second place 2010 Guangzhou Team
FIBA Asia Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Wuhan
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Beirut
Korean name
Hangul
박찬희
Hanja
朴燦熙
Revised RomanizationBak Chan-hui
McCune–ReischauerPak Ch'anhŭi

Early life

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Park grew up in Yeosu and moved to Seoul after his father got a job in Incheon. He first became interested in basketball as an elementary school student after seeing a game broadcast on television. In 2004 he first drew attention after leading Kyungbock High School to win two high school tournaments.[1]

College career

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Despite receiving offers from Yonsei University and Korea University, Park committed to Kyung Hee University. At that time, Kyung Hee, although well-known for its College of Physical Education, was not considered a major contender in college basketball. He decided on Kyung Hee as he would be guaranteed playing time as a freshman. However, he almost gave up the sport after going through a long slump in form during his sophomore year and then going through surgery on his toe during his junior year.[1] During his senior year, Park was joined by high school seniors and Kyung Hee prospects Kim Jong-kyu and Kim Min-goo.[2] They led Kyung Hee to the semi-finals of the National Basketball Festival, the main collegiate competition at that time, but were knocked out by a Lee Jung-hyun-inspired Yonsei team.[3]

Professional career

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Park was the first overall pick of the 2010 KBL rookie draft and was drafted by Anyang KT&G. It was only the second time in the history of the KBL rookie draft that the first overall pick was not from Yonsei University, Korea University or Chung-Ang University, which are collectively known as the "big 3" of domestic college basketball.[1] His rookie season did not begin smoothly as he struggled to adapt to the professional game and Anyang finished second-last in the league table.[4] He averaged 12.0 points and played in 44 out of 54 games. Despite Anyang's poor results, the relatively young squad – which also included guards Kim Tae-sul and Lee Jung-hyun and forward Yang Hee-jong – were highlighted as future stars.[5] Park would go on to win the Rookie of the Year award.

He enlisted for mandatory military service in April 2012 and joined the Sangmu team after completing basic training.[6] He was discharged in January 2014.[7]

Park was traded to Incheon Electroland Elephants for Han Hee-won in 2016. He led them to the play-offs and became the team's main point guard due to injury problems and underwhelming performances from the other starting point guards.

At the end of the 2020-21 season, Incheon Electroland Elephants was in the process of being bought over by another company and relocated to another city. Park decided to leave and was traded to Wonju DB Promy together with Kang Sang-jae in exchange for Doo Kyung-min.[8][9]

National team

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Park was selected for the 2010 Asian Games despite having just turned professional.[10] He has participated in two FIBA World Cups, the 2014[11] and 2019 editions.[12]

Personal life

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Park has been married since 2015. He and his wife have a son Si-yu (born 2016).[13]

Park's younger brother Park Chan-woong is a former SPOTV commentator who also played college basketball for Kyung Hee University.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "[피플 인 스포츠] '프로농구 신인드래프트 1순위' KT&G 박찬희". Seoul Shinmun (in Korean). 12 March 2010.
  2. ^ "[2009농구대잔치]<개막D-6>경희대학교를 주목하라!" (in Korean). BasketKorea.com. 11 December 2009.
  3. ^ "연세대,5년만에 농구대잔치 결승에…". Kukmin Ilbo (in Korean). 27 December 2009.
  4. ^ "아시안게임 그 후, 박찬희가 달라졌다". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 23 December 2010.
  5. ^ "'첫 승' 인삼공사, 희망 찬 미래에 기대". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 31 October 2010.
  6. ^ "[박찬희 입대 전 토크①] "우승? 아직도 소름 돋는다"" (in Korean). SBS. 20 April 2012.
  7. ^ "'말년 병장' 박찬희, "농구대잔치, 헐렁하게 하지 않겠다"" (in Korean). BasketKorea.com. 19 November 2013.
  8. ^ "DB가 풀어야 할 숙제, 강상재 '3번 활용법'" (in Korean). BasketKorea.com. 26 August 2021.
  9. ^ "프로농구 DB 두경민 보내고 강상재-박찬희 영입". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 28 May 2021.
  10. ^ "이승준ㆍ김주성 등 남자농구 대표 13명 선발". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). September 6, 2010.
  11. ^ "2014 FIBA World Cup - Park Chan-hee". fiba.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  12. ^ "2019 FIBA World Cup - Park Chan-hee". fiba.com.
  13. ^ "[신재연의 out of court] '시유아빠' 박찬희 선수의 육아일기" (in Korean). BasketKorea.com. 6 September 2017.
  14. ^ "'아시아컵, 형과 함께 뛴다!' SPOTV 박찬웅 캐스터" (in Korean). Daum News. August 26, 2017.
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