LG Basketball Triumphs: How Coach Jo Sang-hyun Led the Team to Their First Title in 12 Years

Coach Jo Sang-hyun / Photo: Kwon Kwang-il

[Suwon = Sports Today reporter Kang Tae-gu] Coach Jo Sang-hyun credited those around him after clinching the regular-season crown.

On the 3rd, LG beat KT 87-60 on the road at Suwon KT Sonicboom Arena in a 2025–2026 LG Electronics pro basketball regular-season game.

The victory gave LG its second regular-season title in club history and its first since the 2013–14 season, ending a 12-year drought.

Last season, under Jo’s direction, LG captured its first-ever championship since the club’s 1997 founding, wiping away years of disappointment.

Carrying that momentum into this year, LG finished the regular season in first place and now turns its focus to the playoffs, where it will try to defend its title.

After the game, Jo met with reporters.

“I’ve never been this stressed in a season,” he said. “During prep we had players called to the national team, our internationals returned late, we made our East Asia Super League (EASL) debut, and there were stretches without our national-team players.”

He added, “We started the year targeting 28 wins and a top-six finish. Our standing climbed in rounds two and three, expectations rose, and the pressure mounted. I never thought we’d win the regular season. I only draw up the plans—these players made it happen. I’m proud of them and can feel the team growing.”

Jo spread credit widely.

“Last season I didn’t expect we’d beat SK, and this year I worried about simply making the playoffs. Higher expectations brought more doubts. The players delivered, and I’m grateful to CEO Koo Kwang-mo and the company leadership. The coaches gave great support. My personality can be hard to deal with in a sports setting, so they must have struggled, but they helped turn me into a title-winning coach. I’m thankful to everyone.”

Recalling a low point, Jo singled out the round-five matchup with SK as the most memorable. “I stayed up with our performance analysts until dawn preparing—I’d never been that angry. Still, the players stayed composed and carried us through. We watch a lot of video, and while I want the players to take it in, many people work behind the scenes. Our analysts in particular put in so much work, and I’m truly grateful to them.”

LG has two regular-season games remaining. Jo said his biggest concerns are Marey’s conditioning and injuries—“his knee is a bit swollen”—and that Yang Jun-seok can’t handle long minutes. “We’ll check their bodies and decide moving forward,” he said.

Asked what makes a good coach, Jo smiled and offered a self-aware take: “I’m not so much a ‘good’ coach as I am strict about discipline and enforcing rules. I might not fit perfectly with this generation, but the young players buy in, and veterans like Heo Il-young and Jang Min-guk lead well. Personality-wise, I don’t think I’m an ideal coach.”

He continued, “I didn’t do anything special—mostly I lost my temper. I worry a lot. Coaches Wi Seong-woo and Choi Hee-am tell me to stop getting so mad when we talk. I can’t change easily, but buying coffee when I blew up might have been the smartest thing I did.”

Finally, Jo said thinking about the fans gets to him emotionally. “Seeing the Sebaragi supporters fills me with responsibility and gratitude. The way to repay them is to make LG a team that can challenge for the title. We’ll take that responsibility and repay them,” he said, thanking the fans.

[Sports Today reporter Kang Tae-gu sports@stoo.com]
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