Third-year guard Lee Jung-hyun (25, Goyang Sono Skygunners) has signed a contract worth 360 million won.

The Goyang Sono Skygunners announced on January 1, “We completed the salary negotiations early on the 21st and completed the KBL player registration for the 2024-2025 season on the 28th. The club’s total compensation is 2.685 billion won, and the salary cap utilization rate is approximately 92.6%, an increase of 7.6% from last season.”

Regarding the salary cap depletion rate, Sono said, “We reinforced our strength from last season by re-signing free agents, but we left some room because we are continuing to recruit players to ensure a solid power structure.”

“The highest paid player in the organization is guard Lee Jae-do, who joined Sono in a one-for-one trade for a total of KRW 550 million and a three-year contract. Lee lived up to his price tag in the 2023-2024 season, helping the team 19가이드 finish second in the regular season and reach the top four of the playoffs. Lee Jung-hyun, the most sought-after Korean contributor, signed for 360 million won, an 80 percent increase from last year’s 200 million won total, and was recognized for his value as the second-best player in history in his third year. In 44 regular-season games, Lee averaged 22.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 2.0 steals per game, averaging a foreign player-level performance. Based on these performances, Lee was named the MVP of the fifth and sixth rounds and won three awards at the KBL awards ceremony, including the Most Improved Player and Best 5 of the season in steals, assists, and three-pointers made.”

“I’m looking forward to next season because I have older brothers who are excellent shooters and defenders,” said Lee Jung-hyun. “I had a good individual performance last season, but I was disappointed that I didn’t make it to the quarterfinals. This season, I want to become an MVP who can lead the team to great heights.”

“Last season, center Kim Min-wook, 34, nicknamed ‘Min-wook Jingis,’ averaged 8.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game in 47 regular-season games, ranking second on the team in contributions, and agreed to a 10 percent increase in salary to 220 million won. Sono left for training at the Sono Arena at Vivaldi Park in Hongcheon, Gangwon-do, on Nov. 24 and will continue to train until Nov. 6 with intense physical training and various tactical drills.”