Seo Jang-hoon, Explaining His "Migratory" Basketball Career: "They Offered Much More Money"

Seo Jang-hoon, who once dominated the basketball court, candidly revealed the reason why he went through as many as six teams during his active playing days. In a situation where there are only 10 professional basketball clubs in the country, his history of experiencing six teams drew astonishment from his juniors, but Seo Jang-hoon's explanation was clear. He did not move to teams under similar conditions, but rather transferred to places that offered much higher salaries. In a conversation surrounding loyalty and the symbolism of being a franchise star, he honestly pointed out the realistic meaning of market value for a professional athlete.

On the JTBC entertainment program 'Knowing Bros' broadcast on the 10th, the national basketball team, which returned after winning a gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, appeared. During the broadcast, stories about the players' affection for their teams and their transfers naturally unfolded. Lee Soo-geun brought up the topic of his history of playing for one team for a long time by mentioning to Byeon Jun-hyeong, "Your nickname is the Anyang Guardian."

Byeon Jun-hyeong stated that he has been playing in Anyang since 2018, saying, "Since I have been in Anyang continuously, I want to try being a franchise star once." It was a desire to be remembered as a symbolic player to the club and fans by playing for one team for a long time. To this, Seo Jang-hoon acknowledged the value of a player staying with one team for a long time, saying, "If you've been there that long, it's better to just stay with that team until retirement. You were there for almost 7 or 8 years."

Then, Lee Soo-geun, as if waiting for this moment, threw a question aimed at Seo Jang-hoon. He asked, "Jun-hyeong. But while there are players who stay as guardians of one team like you, there are also people who move around like bats every time they become free agents (FA). What do you think of those kinds of players?" By pointing out the difference between players who maintain loyalty to a team and players who use their free agent status to move teams, he naturally summoned Seo Jang-hoon, who played for several clubs during his active career.

Byeon Jun-hyeong cited affection for the team as the reason why he dreams of being a franchise star. He explained, "I have so much affection for our team and it was so good. The atmosphere was also so good. That's why I want to be a franchise star now." It was a story that the affection built with the team and teammates is an important reason for choosing a long-term companionship. Following this, when Im Woo-il asked about the first condition players consider when deciding on a transfer, the conversation eventually headed toward the issue of salary, which is inseparable in professional sports.

Kang Ho-dong interpreted the salary offered by a club as a way of recognizing a player's value. In response, Seo Jang-hoon directly mentioned his own history, saying, "How else could I have played for 6 teams? There are only 10 teams in total, and I played for 6." Considering the total number of clubs in domestic professional basketball, he essentially emphasized how prominent his history of moving through multiple teams is. While Kang Ho-dong reacted, "There are 10 teams, but moving to 6 teams as an FA is a bit excessive," the juniors instead showed a reaction of envy.

Seo Jang-hoon explained the reason for his repeated transfers even more clearly. He stated, "To explain it to my juniors, the reason I kept moving was that the teams I moved to paid much more. It wasn't that I went to similar places, but they paid much more, so I moved because they paid more, and I moved because they paid more." It was an explanation that he did not simply change teams frequently, but chose clubs that offered him higher value. It was a realistic logic that if the salary difference is large, choosing a transfer is rational.

In professional sports, loyalty to a team and economic compensation are values that often intertwine yet conflict. For a player who establishes themselves as a franchise star by playing for one club for a long time, the bond built with fans and their symbolism become great assets. On the other hand, a player's prime is limited, and a transfer can be an opportunity to have one's skills evaluated in the market and choose better conditions. Seo Jang-hoon's honest remarks showed the reality that it is difficult to view a professional player's transfer solely as a matter of loyalty. In that both the choice to stay with one team and the choice to leave in search of a higher salary can vary depending on a player's values and situation, his blunt confession revealed the cold calculations of the professional world amidst the laughter.

Read the original (Korean)