“Stay a little closer to me. So that I can relax and lean on you as much as I love you~”

This is the song 'A Young Person's Love' by Yangpa, which ranked 1st on the Gayo Top Ten in March 1997 when Changwon LG was founded. Fans who do not remember this song do not know the sorrow of LG's 28 years of unfulfilled ambition. It took LG a staggering 28 years to finally secure their first championship title in 2025.

On the 17th, Changwon LG defeated Seoul SK 62-58 in the 7th game of the 2024-25 KCC professional basketball championship held at Jamsil Student Gymnasium. After three consecutive victories, LG faced another three-game losing streak but clinched a thrilling first victory in their inaugural championship series in the decisive 7th game.

When victory was assured, LG coach Jo Sang-hyeon shed tears of joy. Everyone cried, from the veteran Heo Il-young, who became the finals MVP with his timely three-pointers, to the youngest players, Yoo Gi-sang, Yang Jun-seok, and Carl Tamayo. This victory was hard-earned and deeply meaningful. Numerous star players who represented LG, such as Jo Sung-won, Jo Sang-hyeon, Hyun Joo-yeob, Moon Tae-jong, Kim Jong-kyu, and Kim Young-hwan, finally saw their juniors achieve what they could not.

It was a moment 28 years in the making. LG elevated expectations by finishing second in the regular season during the 97-98 debut season. This was in contrast to Cheongju SK, which finished last in its first season. However, SK quickly claimed victory, winning the championship three times (2000, 2018, 2022).

‘The runner-up era’ of LG is finally over!

The moment of the first victory has come. Under coach Kim Tae-hwan, LG reached the finals in the 2000-01 season with a remarkable average of 103.3 points per game. There were many outstanding players, including Eric Iverson (27.8 points, 2nd), Jo Sung-won (25.7 points, 5th), Alex Mobley (16 points, 30th), and Jo Woo-hyun (14.4 points, 36th).

However, LG collapsed against Suwon Samsung with a record of 1 win and 4 losses in the finals. They could not stop Samsung's luxury lineup consisting of Joo Hee-jung, Artemis McCleary, Moon Kyung-eun, and Kang Hyuk. In the 5th game, Iverson scored 40 points but lost 102-112.

LG's painful history repeated itself. They selected Kim Jong-kyu with the first overall pick in the 2013 draft. They traded Rod Benson for Kim Si-rae and drafted mixed-race player Moon Tae-jong while signing Davon Jefferson to build the 'Fantastic Four.'

In the 13-14 season, LG dominated the regular season with a record of 40 wins and 14 losses. They also swept Busan KT 3-0 in the semifinals. However, LG, which was riding high, fell to Mobiis in the finals with a record of 2 wins and 4 losses. Despite having the strongest roster in LG's history, their performance was disappointing, falling just shy of the championship.

After great hardship, the first championship was secured; there was no reverse sweep!

In 2025, they finally resolved their longstanding disappointment with a championship. Despite injuries to veterans Doo Kyung-min and Jeon Sung-hyun, who were acquired during the off-season, LG secured 2nd place in the regular season thanks to their teamwork. Although they faced a crisis with an 8-game losing streak due to Asem Marey's injury, they bounced back with another 8-game winning streak.

They developed rookie players like Yoo Gi-sang and Yang Jun-seok well and even discovered a mid-level rookie named Jeong In-deok. Signing Philippine national team player Carl Tamayo as an Asia quota was also a masterstroke. Asem Marey received a championship star as the KBL's representative foreign player. The integrated leadership of coach Jo Sang-hyeon brought fruit with this first championship victory.

The Changwon fans are known for their enthusiastic support in the KBL. LG's repeated near-misses at the championship caused significant disappointment. Because of the supporters who dyed Jamsil Student Gymnasium yellow, the players gave their all. The LG fans, who quietly waited for 28 years, were finally rewarded with their first championship. This victory was even sweeter, having faced the threat of a reverse sweep.

Following the 2023 Korean Series championship win in baseball, LG celebrated a joyous occasion with the basketball team's victory in 2025. They excitedly fulfilled the long-standing desire of Changwon fans over 28 years.

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