Kim Tae-sul

Kim Tae-sul
Personal information
Born (1984-08-13) August 13, 1984 (age 40)
Busan, South Korea
NationalitySouth Korean
Listed height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Career information
High schoolDonga High School
CollegeYonsei University
KBL draft2007: 1st round, 1st overall pick
Playing career2007–2021
PositionGuard
Number1
Career history
2007–2009Seoul SK Knights
2009–2014Anyang KGC
2014–2016Jeonju KCC Egis
2016–2019Seoul Samsung Thunders
2019–2021Wonju DB Promy
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Representing  South Korea
Men's Basketball
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2014 Incheon Team
FIBA Asia Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Philippines Team
Korean name
Hangul
김태술
Hanja
金泰術
Revised RomanizationGim Tae-sul
McCune–ReischauerKim T'ae-sul

Kim Tae-sul (born August 13, 1984) is a South Korean retired basketball player. During his fourteen-year professional career, Kim played for five different teams, the longest stint being at Anyang KGC where he won the KBL Championship. He was also a member of the South Korea national team and participated in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup and two Asian Games.[1]

Early life and college years

A native of Busan, Kim attended Donga High School.[2][3] He was one of the stand-outs at his high school and was recruited by Yonsei University, where he would be joined by his future Anyang KGC teammate and best friend Yang Hee-jong.[4][5] The Yonsei team dominated collegiate competitions after a period of stagnation. In the 2005 MBC Cup, Kim scored 20 points during the final against Chung-Ang University as Yonsei won the competition for a fourth consecutive time.[6]

Professional career

Seoul SK Knights (2007–2009)

Kim was drafted first overall in the 2007 KBL rookie draft by Seoul SK Knights. He made an immediate impact with double-digit numbers in assists during his first two games and ranked second in assists, the highest ranked rookie player that season.[7] The lack of point guards able to compete with Kim Seung-hyun statistically led the media to dub the younger Kim as "Magic Kid" and he won the KBL Rookie of the Year and named into the KBL Best 5.[8]

Anyang (2009–2014)

In a surprise move, Seoul SK Knights decided to trade him and another player to Anyang KT&G Kites for former MVP Joo Hee-jung at the end of the 2008–09 season.[9] He immediately enlisted for mandatory military service, serving as a public service worker. It was not until the 2011–12 season that he was able to play for his new team.[10] At that time, his teammates included the recently-discharged Yang Hee-jong and newcomers Oh Se-keun, Park Chan-hee and Lee Jung-hyun. The young team managed to reach the final of the Championship playoffs and defeat regular season champions Wonju Dongbu Promy.[11] During his last season with Anyang, he led the league in assists for the first time.[12]

Jeonju KCC Egis (2014–2016)

With his contract up at Anyang, Kim joined Jeonju KCC Egis.[12][13] His signing was meant to be part of a major squad rebuilding project by coach Hur Jae but did not play for his new team for the first round of the season due to his participation in both the 2014 FIBA World Cup and Asian Games.[14] He went through a major slump that season as KCC finished ninth, the second last position.

Kim managed to return to form the following season, especially after establishing a tandem with foreign recruits Andre Emmett and Herbert Hill.[15][16] KCC won the regular season title and reached the final of the Championship playoffs.

Final years (2016–2021)

Kim moved to Seoul Samsung Thunders, attracted by the prospect of playing under the legendary Lee Sang-min. Although no longer an automatic starter due to his age and physical condition, his experience was highly valued and he served as a mentor to the younger guards in the team.[17] The lack of experienced guards and with Joo Hee-jung nearing retirement, Kim saw much more playing time and won Round MVP of the first round.[18]

At the end of the 2018–19 season, he signed a one-year contract with Wonju DB Promy and was reunited with his former Anyang head coach Lee Sang-beom.[19] He stayed for another season before announcing his retirement on 13 May 2021.[11][20]

Post-retirement activities

Kim opted not to go into coaching like many of his retired peers had done. He made guest appearances on several variety programs and started a Naver blog, in which he posts about recent developments in both college basketball and the KBL.[21][22] In June 2022, he was a guest commentator for tvN's coverage of South Korea's friendly games against the Philippines. He was then hired by SPOTV to cover KBL games for the 2022–23 season.[23]

In September 2021, Kim signed with General Entertainment.[24]

References

  1. ^ "FIBA Profile". fiba.com. Archived from the original on August 31, 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  2. ^ "'동아고 농구스타' 다시 뭉친다". Busan Ilbo (in Korean). 13 May 2004.
  3. ^ "[학교 탐방] '부산 농구 명가' 동아고, "근래 들어 전력 가장 좋아"". BasketKorea (in Korean). 22 February 2022.
  4. ^ "김태술·양희종 고교'빅2'싹쓸이 연세대 농구 더 세진다". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 7 August 2002.
  5. ^ "농구 삼총사의 '우정과 승부 사이'". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). 28 March 2012.
  6. ^ "[농구]연세 "코트에 맞수 없다"… MBC배 대학농구 4연패". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 8 April 2005.
  7. ^ "김태술, SK 술술 풀었다". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 22 October 2007.
  8. ^ "<프로농구> SK 김태술 "김승현, 벽처럼 느껴졌다"". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). 3 February 2008.
  9. ^ "'FA 최대어' 문경은, "계속 뛰고 싶다!"" (in Korean). KBS. 2 May 2009.
  10. ^ "'소집해제' 김태술, KGC와 2억 2000만원에 계약". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 20 September 2011.
  11. ^ a b "함께 별을 딴 동료의 첫 굿바이, 인삼신기가 김태술에게". Jumpball (in Korean). May 14, 2021.
  12. ^ a b "프로농구 김태술, KCC로 이적…강병현과 트레이드(종합)". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). 15 May 2014.
  13. ^ "김태술, KCC로 이적…강병현 트레이드" (in Korean). KBS. 15 May 2014.
  14. ^ "농구대통령, 씁쓸한 퇴장". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 10 February 2015.
  15. ^ "김태술의 잠자던 근육은 어떻게 깨어났을까". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 27 December 2015.
  16. ^ "[크블 이슈] '시선 강탈' 김태술의 노룩패스…돋보인 KCC 조직력". Kukmin Ilbo (in Korean). 28 November 2015.
  17. ^ "<프로농구> 김태술 부활하자 삼성 '가드 왕국'도 재건". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). 26 October 2016.
  18. ^ "삼성 김태술, 프로농구 1R MVP 선정" (in Korean). KBS. 18 November 2016.
  19. ^ "우승 도전 DB, 김태술이 마지막 퍼즐 조각 될까". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 28 May 2019.
  20. ^ "'중간계투' DB 김태술의 바람, 아낌없이 주는 선배". Jumpball (in Korean). 4 August 2020.
  21. ^ "김태술 (whynotme1189)" (in Korean). Naver.
  22. ^ "[리뷰] '뭉쳐야 찬다2' 슈퍼패스 김태술, 첫 경기부터 입증한 존재감" (in Korean). JTBC. 13 September 2021.
  23. ^ "KBL 레전드 김태술, 이제는 SPOTV 신입 해설위원". Jumpball (in Korean). 19 October 2022.
  24. ^ Choi Na-young (September 29, 2021). "구선수 출신' 김태술, 장군엔터와 전속계약..김성주·김병현과 한솥밥 [공식]" [Basketball player Kim Tae-sul, exclusive contract with General Entertainment]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved September 29, 2021 – via Naver.