Basketball legend Kim Ju-sung will pick up the commentary microphone for the Asian Games basketball broadcasts.
Sports channel SPOTV announced its broadcast lineup Wednesday for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, which open Sept. 19, saying Kim Ju-sung — who helped South Korea's men's basketball team win two Asian Games titles as a player — will join as a color commentator.
The men's basketball team begins its schedule Thursday, nine days before the opening ceremony. In a 12-team field split into three groups, South Korea landed in Group A alongside Japan, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. The team faces Saudi Arabia on Thursday, Indonesia on Friday and host Japan on Sunday.
Led by head coach Nikolajs Mazurs, the 12-man roster is headlined by Lee Hyun-joong, who signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers. The lineup also includes Lee Jung-hyun (Sono); Moon Yoo-hyun and Byun Jun-hyung (both KGC); Yoo Ki-sang (LG Group); Lee Woo-seok (Armed Forces Athletic Corps); Eddie Daniel (SK Group); Jang Jae-seok and Choi Jun-yong (both KCC); Lee Seung-hyun (Hyundai Mobis); Yeo Jun-seok (Seattle University); and Moon Jung-hyun (KT Corp).
Kim, who competed in five Asian Games as a player and helped the team win two gold medals, said, "I'm honored to be marking my sixth Asian Games, this time as a commentator rather than a player." Looking ahead to the tournament, he added, "Japan has been on the rise recently, and China and the Middle Eastern countries have also improved technically, so we need to be cautious."
With Kim rating this year's squad as strong enough to contend for gold, attention now turns to whether the men's basketball team can continue its run toward the title. Making his broadcast debut, Kim will pair with commentators Kim Myung-jung and Lee Seung-hyun.
Live broadcasts of the men's basketball team's games will stream on SPOTV NOW.
yjc@heraldcorp.com
