Wikipedia

Lee Hyun-jung (basketball)

Lee Hyun-jung (born October 23, 2000) is a South Korean professional basketball player for the Nagasaki Velca of the B.League. He played college basketball for the Davidson Wildcats of the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10). He helped the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) win the NBL championship in 2025.

Lee Hyun-jung
Lee Hyun-jung at the United States Naval Academy in 2019
No. 5 – Nagasaki Velca
PositionShooting guard / small forward
LeagueB.League
Personal information
Born (2000-10-23) October 23, 2000 (age 25)
Seongnam, South Korea
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeDavidson (2019–2022)
NBA draft2022: undrafted
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018–2019BA Centre of Excellence
2023Santa Cruz Warriors
2023–2025Illawarra Hawks
2024Osaka Evessa
2025–presentNagasaki Velca
Career highlights
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  South Korea
FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship
Gold medal – first place2015 IndonesiaTeam

Early life and career

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Lee attended Samil Commercial School in Suwon, where he played basketball under the coaching of his father.[1] In middle school, Lee was only 170 centimeters (5 ft 7 in) and played as a guard, as he practiced dribbling and mid-range shooting. By the end of his middle school years, Lee grew to over 190 centimeters (6 ft 3 in). He played as a center during defense and a guard during the offense.[2] He modeled his game after Klay Thompson.[3]

In 2018, Lee enrolled at the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia.[4] While at the academy, he played for the BA Centre of Excellence in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) in 2018 and then the NBL1 in 2019.[5] In conjunction with the NBA Global Academy and the Centre of Excellence, he attended Lake Ginninderra Secondary College,[6] where he learned to speak English.[4]

Lee committed to playing college basketball for Davidson over an offer from Washington State. He drew the attention of head coach Bob McKillop and his staff at a Basketball Without Borders event.[4] He would become the fourth player and the second men's player from South Korea to play NCAA Division I basketball.[7]

College career

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As a freshman with the Davidson Wildcats in 2019–20, Lee appeared in 28 games off the bench and finished seventh among A-10 first-year players in scoring, averaging 8.4 points per game.[6] On February 7, 2020, he scored a season-high 20 points in a 73–62 loss to VCU.[8] He was subsequently named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team.[6][9]

As a sophomore in 2020–21, Lee started all 22 games and finished second on the team in scoring and assists. He became the first-ever Wildcat to conclude the season shooting at least 50 percent overall, 40 percent from three-point range and 90 percent from the free throw line. He twice scored a season-high 23 points.[6] He averaged 13.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.[6]

As a junior in 2021–22, Lee played in 34 games and made 33 starts, averaging 15.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.[6] On December 1, 2021, he recorded a career-high 32 points and 14 rebounds against Charlotte.[10][11] He was subsequently named first-team All-Atlantic 10.[12]

On April 26, 2022, Lee declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.[13]

Professional career

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Santa Cruz Warriors (2023)

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After suffering a foot injury,[14][15] Lee went undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft.[16]

On February 20, 2023, Lee was acquired by the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G League.[17] In 12 games to complete the 2022–23 season, he averaged 5.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.[18]

Lee played for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2023 NBA Summer League.[19]

Illawarra Hawks and Osaka Evessa (2023–2025)

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On July 11, 2023, Lee signed a three-year deal with the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL).[19] On January 20, 2024, he scored a career-high 24 points on 5-of-8 three-point shooting in a 96–89 loss to the Adelaide 36ers.[20]

On March 19, 2024, Lee signed with the Osaka Evessa of the B.League.[21] His contract expired on May 31, 2024.[22]

Lee returned to the Illawarra Hawks for the 2024–25 NBL season and helped the team win the NBL championship.[23] He parted ways with the Hawks in July 2025, after his contract was bought out by a Japanese club.[23] In 69 games for the Hawks, he averaged 7.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, connecting on 38% of his three-point attempts.[23]

Nagasaki Velca (2025–present)

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On July 30, 2025, Lee signed with the Nagasaki Velca of the B.League.[24] He helped the Velca win the championship and was named Championship MVP.[25]

For the 2026 NBA Summer League, Lee will play for the San Antonio Spurs affiliate. [26]

National team career

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Lee played for South Korea's junior national team at the 2015 FIBA Asia Under-16 Championship. He averaged 14 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, leading his team to its first gold medal at the tournament.[27][28] Lee represented South Korea at the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship and 2018 FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship.[1] He averaged 26 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 6 assists per game at the 2018 tournament.[29] He played for the senior team at the 2020 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments and during the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.[30]

Personal life

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Lee's mother, Sung Jung-a, won a silver medal while representing South Korea in basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics. His father, Lee Yoon-hwan, played semi-professionally before becoming a high school athletic director and coach. His older sister, Lee Ri-na, played for the South Korean under-16 national team.[31]

Career statistics

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2019–20 Davidson 28020.9.467.377.8573.1.8.6.18.4
2020–21 Davidson 222229.9.508.442.9004.02.5.5.413.5
2021–22 Davidson 343332.1.474.381.7776.01.9.7.315.8
Career 845527.8.481.397.8234.51.7.6.212.7

NBA G League

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022–23 Santa Cruz 12017.6.319.292.6004.21.7.8.35.5
Career 12017.6.319.292.6004.21.7.8.35.5

Japan B.League

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Year Team League GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2023–24 Japan Osaka Evessa B.League 1627.5.435.375.6395.52.6.9.515.3
2025–26 Japan Nagasaki Velca 5729.6.565.479.8205.62.71.2.517.4

Source:

References

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  1. 1 2 "Could Lee Hyunjung be the next Yuta Watanabe? Steph Curry's college coach thinks so". FIBA. July 14, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  2. ↑ Yoo, Jee-ho (May 8, 2019). "S. Korean basketball prospect to join Davidson in NCAA". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  3. ↑ Gershon, Josh (April 16, 2019). "Hyunjung Lee: 2019 South Korean SF planning two official visits". 247Sports. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 Scott, David (February 17, 2020). "From South Korea to Australia to Davidson: Hyunjung Lee's journey never lost sight of home". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Hyunjung Lee". usbasket.com. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Hyunjung Lee". davidsonwildcats.com. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  7. ↑ Yonhap (May 8, 2019). "Lee will be Korea's 4th NCAA Division I baller". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Rams Ride Wildcat Miscues to Win". Davidson College Athletics. February 7, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  9. ↑ Scott, David (March 10, 2020). "Davidson's Kellan Grady, Jon Axel Gudmundsson make all-Atlantic 10 teams". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved December 22, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  10. ↑ "Lee scores 32 to lift Davidson over Charlotte 75-58". ESPN.com. December 1, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Hyunjung Lee Game Log 2021-22". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Brajkovic Named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, McKillop, Osunniyi Earn Top Honors". atlantic10.com. March 8, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  13. ↑ Yonhap (April 27, 2022). "S. Korean player Lee Hyun-jung declares for NBA draft". The Korea Herald. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  14. ↑ "NBA draft hopeful Lee Hyun-jung likely out for months with foot injury". Korea Times. June 23, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Hyunjung Lee: On mend from foot injury". CBS Sports. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  16. ↑ Yoo, Jee-ho (June 24, 2022). "S. Korean player Lee Hyun-jung goes undrafted in NBA". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  17. ↑ "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Hyunjung Lee". realgm.com. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  19. 1 2 "Hawks Welcome Korean Sharpshooter Hyunjung Lee". Hawks.com.au. July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Sixers climb off bottom, hand Hawks third straight loss". NBL.com.au. January 20, 2024. Archived from the original on January 20, 2024.
  21. ↑ "イ ヒョンジュン選手 契約基本合意(新規)". 大阪エヴェッサ. March 19, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  22. ↑ "イ ヒョンジュン選手 契約満了". 大阪エヴェッサ. June 5, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  23. 1 2 3 ""Lee for Three!": Hyunjung Lee Departs Hawks for Japan Opportunity". Illawarra Hawks | Official NBL Website. July 31, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  24. ↑ "イ ヒョンジュン 選手契約基本合意(新規)のお知らせ". velca.jp (in Japanese). July 30, 2025. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Lee Hyun-jung Joins San Antonio Spurs for NBA Summer League".
  26. ↑ "Lee Hyun-jung Joins San Antonio Spurs for NBA Summer League".
  27. ↑ "Korea power their way past Chinese Taipei for maiden FIBA Asia U16 title". FIBA. November 7, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Hyunjung Lee (KOR)'s profile - FIBA Asia U16 Championship for Men 2015". FIBA. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Hyunjung Lee stats". FIBA. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Davidson's Hyunjung Lee Selected to Senior National Team". Atlantic 10 Conference. May 11, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  31. ↑ "S. Korean basketball prospect to join Davidson in NCAA. He has a girlfriend Rebecca Yeh". Yonhap News Agency. May 8, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
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