Korean basketball is set to challenge for a joint gold medal in both men's and women's categories at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, aiming for a feat not achieved in 12 years. The men's team, which finished with the lowest ranking in its history at the last tournament, seeks to restore its honor, while the women's team, facing key player absences, aims to secure a medal to uphold its pride.
Basketball is the first event to take place in this tournament. The men's team, led by coach Nikolajs Madzulis, will begin the group stage on the 10th and compete in the finals on the 20th, the day after the opening ceremony on the 19th. The women's team, under coach Park Soo-ho, will start its group stage on the 17th and play in the finals on the 26th.
Historically, Korea has won four gold medals in men's basketball (1970, 1982, 2002, 2014) and four in women's basketball (1978, 1990, 1994, 2014). The 2014 Incheon Games marked the only time both teams achieved gold simultaneously. Korea ranks second in total gold medals, following China, which has eight in men's and seven in women's categories.
However, the men's team is coming off a disappointing performance at the 2023 Hangzhou Games, where it recorded its lowest finish ever, ending up in seventh place after losing to China in the quarterfinals. This broke a streak of medals that included a silver in 2010, gold in 2014, and bronze in 2018.
The current team is coached by Latvian Nikolajs Madzulis, the first foreign head coach in Korean basketball history. The team's performance has not yet met expectations, with a record of four wins and six losses, falling below a 50% win rate. In recent exhibition games in Japan, the team suffered defeats by margins of 20 and 29 points.
In addition, the roster is stretched thin. Key players Ahn Young-jun (Seoul SK), the MVP of the KBL, and Ha Yoon-ki (Suwon KT) are sidelined due to injuries, and the absence of naturalized players has left the team at a height disadvantage.
There are signs of potential improvement. On August 31, Korea defeated Saudi Arabia 85-72 in the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers. This was followed by victories over the Philippines in two exhibition games on September 4 and 6, winning 81-55 and 69-42, respectively.
Expectations are high for ace Lee Hyun-jung, who averaged 14 points and 12.7 rebounds in the last three games against Saudi Arabia and the Philippines. He scored a team-high 25 points in the Saudi Arabia game and grabbed 15 rebounds in both exhibition matches against the Philippines.
Korea is placed in Group A and will face Saudi Arabia on the 10th, Indonesia on the 11th, and host nation Japan on the 13th. The match against Japan is particularly anticipated as the team seeks to avenge a previous defeat.
The women's team has never missed a medal at the Asian Games. After winning its first gold in Bangkok in 1978, it secured gold again in Beijing in 1990, Hiroshima in 1994, and Incheon in 2014. The team earned a silver medal as a unified team with North Korea in the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games and a bronze at the last Hangzhou Games.
However, the lead-up to this tournament has been challenging. The team lost both exhibition games against Japan on August 13 and 14, suffering an 18-point defeat in the first game and narrowly losing the second by one point after leading for much of the match.
Injuries have also taken a toll. Key guard Park Ji-hyun, who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA, is unavailable due to scheduling conflicts. The participation of 'national treasure' center Park Ji-soo (Cheongju KB), who is recovering from an ankle injury, remains uncertain.
The women's team is currently competing in the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup in Germany and will travel to Japan after completing their schedule. In the group stage of the Asian Games, they will compete in Group C against Taiwan, Malaysia, and Mongolia for a chance to advance to the quarterfinals.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.