Park Ji-soo: Female Basketball Guard Opens Up About Struggles
- SEOUL, South Korea (April 17, 2025) — Korean basketball star park Ji-soo is back with teh Cheongju KB Stars after a year playing in the Turkish league.
- “I was comfortable before, but now I realize I have to practise a lot more.”
- "Nowadays, players have to be versatile, nonetheless of position," Park said.
Park Ji-soo Returns to KB stars After European Stint
Table of Contents
SEOUL, South Korea (April 17, 2025) — Korean basketball star park Ji-soo is back with teh Cheongju KB Stars after a year playing in the Turkish league. Park reflected on her time in Europe, stating she recognized areas for improvement in her game.
Lessons Learned in Europe
“I felt I had shortcomings,” Park told reporters. “I was comfortable before, but now I realize I have to practise a lot more.”
Park emphasized the evolving nature of basketball. “Nowadays, players have to be versatile, nonetheless of position,” Park said. “I used to think of myself as just a center, but now I know I need to develop a wider range of skills.”
Adapting Her Game
Park,who played for Galatasaray in Turkiye,noted the differences in her role. “Initially, I played center, but in the second half of the season, I transitioned to power forward. I want to showcase a variety of plays,not just those under the basket.”
During her time in the Euro Cup, despite battling ankle and shoulder injuries, Park averaged 11.6 points and 5.9 rebounds, helping her team reach the round of 16.
Impressed by KB stars’ growth
Park acknowledged that injuries hampered her performance in Europe. “I thought I was okay before the injury, but I couldn’t return to my perfect state, so I couldn’t show as much as I wanted.”
She expressed admiration for the KB Stars’ performance in her absence.The team, built around point guard Hur Ye-eun, finished the regular season with a 12-18 record.
“Ye-eun has grown a lot,” Park said. “I was going to do well, but she was much better than I thought.”
“It was good to see the growing players through the difficulties. KB’s basketball was fun to watch.”
Managing Expectations
With Park Ji-soo back in the lineup,the KB Stars are expected to be strong contenders. However, Park downplayed the hype. “I don’t feel good to hear that we are a winning candidate and ‘you must win’ because of me,” she said.
“I just want to spend a fun season from the standpoint of challenge,” Park added.
Looking Ahead
During the 2023-2024 season with the KB Stars, Park averaged 20.3 points, 15.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 29 regular-season games. She was voted the regular season’s best player, earning 110 votes from reporters and securing eight awards.
Park Ji-soo’s Return to the Cheongju KB Stars: A Q&A
Q: Who is Park Ji-soo, and why is her return meaningful?
A: Park Ji-soo is a Korean basketball star. Her return to the Cheongju KB Stars after a year playing in the Turkish league is significant as she is a highly talented player, and her presence is expected to greatly impact the team’s performance.
Q: Where did Park Ji-soo play during her European stint?
A: Park Ji-soo played in the Turkish league for Galatasaray.
Q: What did Park Ji-soo say about her time in Europe?
A: Park Ji-soo reflected on her time in Europe and acknowledged that she recognized areas for enhancement in her game. she mentioned she realized she needed to practice more and develop a wider range of skills.
Q: What aspects of her game did Park Ji-soo focus on improving?
A: Park emphasized the evolving nature of basketball and the need for versatility. She recognized that players must develop skills beyond their primary position, like the center position, to be triumphant. She also noted the differences in her role, transitioning from center to power forward and wanting to showcase a variety of plays.
Q: What were Park Ji-soo’s statistics during her time in the Euro Cup?
A: Despite battling ankle and shoulder injuries, Park averaged 11.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in the Euro Cup, helping her team reach the round of 16.
Q: Did Park Ji-soo’s injuries affect her performance?
A: Yes, Park acknowledged that injuries hampered her performance in Europe. She felt that she couldn’t return to her perfect state and couldn’t show as much as she wanted.
Q: How did Park Ji-soo feel about the KB Stars’ performance in her absence?
A: Park expressed admiration for the KB Stars’ performance while she was away. She specifically noted the growth of point guard Hur Ye-eun and the team’s overall improvement.
Q: What were the KB Stars’ results in the regular season?
A: The KB Stars finished the regular season with a 12-18 record.
Q: Did park Ji-soo address expectations for the upcoming season?
A: Yes, Park downplayed the hype surrounding her return. She says that she doesn’t want to be overly pressured by expectations of winning. She simply wants to enjoy the season and embrace the challenge.
Q: What were Park Ji-soo’s stats during her last season with the KB Stars (2023-2024)?
A: During the 2023-2024 season with the KB Stars, Park had impressive stats: 20.3 points, 15.2 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 29 regular-season games.
Q: What awards did Park Ji-soo receive during the 2023-2024 season?
A: Park was voted the regular season’s best player based on 110 votes from reporters and secured eight awards.
Q: Looking back, what are the main changes and points of growth Park Ji-soo has acknowledged?
A: Park ji-soo has highlighted two main areas of growth: versatility and the role of overcoming injuries. the table below summarizes these changes:
| Key Area | Before | After European Stint |
|---|---|---|
| Playing Style | Primarily a Center | Transitioned to Power Forward; Seeking to expand offensive play |
| skills | Focus on Center-specific skills | recognized need for broader skillset and versatility |
| Overcoming Issues | N/A | Reflects overcoming shoulder and ankle Injury |