Busan BNK Thumb tried to make major changes after the end of “Woori Bank’s Woori WON 2023-2024 Women’s Professional Basketball.” Center Jinan (28, 181cm), who qualified as a free agent, left for Hana One Q in Bucheon, but it strengthened its power by recruiting guards Park Hye-jin (34, 179cm) and forward Kim Sonia (31, 177cm).
BNK’s guards are already considered among the best in the league. They have renewed their contracts with Ahn Hye-ji (27, 164cm), who has excellent assist capabilities, and are holding out to Lee So-hee (24, 170cm), who can both lead and score. On top of that, there is a high expectation that Park Hye-jin, who boasts the league’s best defense, and Kim Sonia, the scorer, will be able to show off more powerful firepower.
Of course, there are variables. For BNK, the key is to transfer compensation players following the recruitment of Park Hye-jin and Kim Sonia. Depending on the contribution of the season, one out of four protection players should be sent to Shinhan Bank, Kim’s original team, and Park Hye-jin’s one out of five protection players should be sent to Asan Woori Bank. This could lead to a major change in the team. Apart from Park Hye-jin and Kim Sonia’s outstanding rebounding capabilities, it is also clear that competitive centers are needed.
Until last season, BNK was highly dependent on Jinan. Jinan played more than 33 minutes on average for four consecutive seasons from the 2020-2021 season to the 2023-2024 season, and its weight was so high that it made double-digit rebounds for the last two consecutive seasons. As such, young center players Park Sung-jin (20·185 cm), Moon Ji-young (2·183 cm) and Choi Min-ju (2·180 cm) played for a short time.
Against this backdrop, Park Sung-jin, who averaged 13 minutes and 2 seconds last season and recorded 1.96 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.4 assists, is encouraging. It is because just having one clear center resource is a great help to the team’s strength. As Kim Sonia reduced the injury gap of tall centers such as Kim Tae-yeon (187 centimeters) and Byun So-jeong (180 centimeters), the public opinion is that resources to fight under the basket are essential.
BY: 토토사이트
