Expecting a vertical rise in BNK’s power to join Park Hye-jin, he said, “There is nothing natural about sports.”

“Living Legend” Park Hye-jin (34, Busan BNK Sum), who is making a new start in her hometown team, is creating a new chemistry. 메이저놀이터

Park Hye-jin met with Star News at BNK Busan Bank Training Center in Gijang-gun, Busan, BNK’s club house, on the 5th and expressed her feelings about joining the team after transfer.

Earlier, Park Hye-jin signed a free agent (FA) contract with BNK on April 18. Born in Busan and raised in Busan until middle school (Dongju Girls’ Middle School), he returned to his hometown.

Park Hye-jin, who left Woori Bank, where she has been active for 16 years since her professional debut in 2009, first joined the team in late April and began training in early June. “It’s only been a month since I joined the team, but I’m still in the stage of building my body,” he said.

Park Hye-jin, who recently returned from a training camp in Jeju Island, said, “I haven’t even started yet. I haven’t started basketball yet.” As a result, she is not yet in the stage of properly coordinating with the current BNK players. Nonetheless, Park Hye-jin attended a practice game against Busan Central High School on the day to check her physical condition.

Park Hye-jin said, “I expect you to stumble a lot because it’s your first game,” but added, “I think the players will be able to recognize and match it only when there are shortcomings.” He said, “If we say we did physical training until June, we’re going to talk to the players and try to match them well as we go into tactical training from July.”

Currently, BNK is mostly composed of young players in their early to mid-20s, except for Kim Sonia (31) and Ahn Hye-ji (27), who moved with Park Hye-jin. We can’t help but expect leadership from experienced Park Hye-jin. BNK coach Park Jung-eun expected, “There will be a part where (Park) Hye-jin will show her personally and set an example for young players,” and Kim Sonia also said, “You only need to trust Totsi (Park Hye-jin’s nickname).”

In response, Park Hye-jin said, “I’m worried that the players are too young, but they’re working hard,” adding, “I think I have to set an example first and do well so that the players will follow me well. I think I should build my body with responsibility first.” He said, “It’s hard because there’s too much age difference. If I don’t approach you first, the players are more difficult, so I try to make friends comfortably,” and laughed, “I think they’re still having a hard time.”

There was also something surprising about the young players. Park Hye-jin said, “I was surprised because all the players were so good at their skills.” She continued, “I worked so hard, but I need to get better results in the team to go up a notch.”

In the 2024-2025 season, the WKBL is expected to have a spring and autumn war era without “strongest players.” BNK, which finished last season at the bottom, has also strengthened its capabilities including Park Hye-jin. However, he firmly said, “Sports aren’t based on the value of names.” “They say that it’s getting better because I have Kim Sonia, but there’s no such thing as ‘natural’,” he said. “I have to put in that much effort. I feel pressured, but I hope I can overcome it well.”