A fresh start that was not welcomed, Lee Dae Sung who said what he wanted to say
"U-turn in a year? That's right
Contracted with Samsung to talk to Gas Corporation
Late offer. I can't feel the sincerity
Exploiting system loopholes? KBL's share"
Doctrine responsibility controversy
It could lead to tempering allegations
"It feels like a hearing," said Lee Dae-sung 34 of Samsung, who expressed his first impression on returning to the KBL. Lee Dae-sung, who announced his overseas expansion but returned to the Japanese B League in a year, sighed at the fact that his new start came amid criticism.
"I was criticized a lot, and I think I have a lot of things to blame. I couldn't do it because I was congratulated on my new start at Samsung. I will do my best," Lee said in a press conference at the KBL Center in Seoul on Tuesday.
Lee Dae-sung signed a two-year contract with Samsung on the 21st, a day earlier, for a total of 600 million won incentive 180 million won in his first year.
Lee Dae-sung declared as a basketball player last year that he would go overseas to compete and grow. He originally planned to go to Australia, but when negotiations did not go smoothly, he changed his course to the Japanese B-League and joined Shihos Mikawa to make it to the playoffs.
However, Lee Dae-sung recently made a big impact when he applied for a KBL free agent FA.
The former team, Daegu Korea Gas Corporation, fully released Lee Dae-sung's overseas expansion without securing the right to renew the contract through voluntary termination, because he returned in Samsung's uniform. The Korea Gas Corporation also offered to recruit Lee Dae-sung on the 20th during the FA self-negotiation period, but it had already signed the contract.
"The series of developments to join Samsung has become a big deal. First of all, I would like to apologize to Korea Gas Corporation and its fans," Lee said. "I don't think there was a sincere offer from KGC."
"The morning after applying for FA, I told KGC that I would discuss the contract with Samsung if I return to Korea. I don't know why Samsung offered to sign the contract on Tuesday at a time when we were discussing ways to make amends to KGC in acknowledging its moral responsibility. KGC also said, "There were many good players in the guard position, so the timing was not right."
Lee shook his head at the criticism that he had used the loophole in the KBL system. "Isn't it regrettable that the KBL interprets the vote?" he asked back, "It is the position of the club KGC that it did not voluntarily leave the club as a big winner. When choosing to go overseas, I also took the risk of not being able to come back for five years when other clubs offer or reject the contract." However, KGC asked other clubs not to offer a contract for Lee Dae-sung in order to ensure his smooth overseas expansion, and the rest of the clubs accepted the request.
Lee Dae-sung frankly admitted that it was a failure for him to return to the KBL after a year. "I am not a perfect person. Lee Dae-sung, who was curiously confronted with reality, just failed and came back in a year," he added.
Although Lee emphasized moral responsibility to KGC, it is uncertain whether actual compensation will be possible. According to KBL regulations, compensation itself is impossible. A Samsung official said, "KGC made a mistake by asking players to get compensation. We will hear from KGC, but we cannot promise to review compensation."
Some are also mentioning the possibility of raising suspicions of tampering if Samsung and Korea Gas Corporation continue to collide. According to the KBL regulations, all contact is prohibited until the date of FA disclosure, but Lee Dae-sung mentioned going to Samsung from the first day of FA application. Lee Dae-sung replied, "The story of going to Samsung is that I don't have to tell you because I've been close to Kim Hyo-beom Samsung for a long time."
Meanwhile, an official from the Korea Gas Corporation said, "We will think about how to organize our positions regarding Lee Dae-sung's claim and disclose it."