Kim Yoo-taek (born October 10, 1963 in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea) is a former South Korean basketball player. Although positioned as a center due to his height, Kim possessed the ball-handling skills of a guard and was equally capable of playing inside and outside. He is considered one of the greatest Asian centers to ever play the game, along with Carlos Loyzaga and Yao Ming.

Kim Yoo-taek
Personal information
Born (1963-10-10) 10 October 1963 (age 60)
South Korea
NationalitySouth Korean
Listed height197 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Career information
CollegeChung-Ang University
Playing career1987–2000
PositionCenter
Coaching career2002–2014
Career history
As player:
1987–2000Kia Motors / Busan Kia Enterprise
As coach:
2002–2005Myongji High School basketball team (head coach)
2008–2009South Korea men's national team (assistant coach)
2009–2011Daegu Orions (assistant coach)
2011–2015Chung-Ang University basketball team (head coach)
Career highlights and awards
  • KBL Championship (1997)
  • KBL Sixth Man Award (1997)
  • Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus number 14 retired
Medals
Representing  South Korea
FIBA Asia Championship
Bronze medal – third place 1983 Hong Kong Team
Silver medal – second place 1985 Kuala Lumpur Team
Silver medal – second place 1987 Bangkok Team
Silver medal – second place 1989 Beijing Team
Bronze medal – third place 1993 Jakarta Team
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 1986 Seoul Team
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Beijing Team
Silver medal – second place 1994 Hiroshima Team
Korean name
Hangul
김유택
Hanja
金裕宅
Revised RomanizationGim Yu-taek
McCune–ReischauerKim Yut'aek

Early life edit

Kim began playing basketball because his high school team lacked tall players and recruited him. He played for Myongji High School, whose basketball team was still relatively new.[1]

Career edit

Kim attended Chung-Ang University alongside Han Ki-bum and Hur Jae. He, Hur and Kang Dong-hee, dubbed the "Hur-Dong-Taek Trio", formed the offensive core of the Chung-Ang University team which dominated college basketball during the 1980's.[2] He joined the Busan-based amateur team of Kia Motors, the predecessor of Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus. Hur and Kang later joined him and the "Hur-Dong-Taek Trio" led Busan Kia to dominate the pre-KBL era competition.[3][4] In 1996, he reached 4,000 career points.[5] With the founding of the professional league (Korean Basketball League) in 1997, Kim stayed on with the team and retired in 2000. He was the oldest professional player at that time.[6] After retirements of Hur and Kang, the media dubbed it the "end of an era".[6]

Busan Kia Enterprise retired his number 14 jersey in 2000, a legacy carried on by its successor team Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus.[7] He was nicknamed "Stork" (황새) due to his gangly stature and the fact that his ability on the court belied his meticulous and strict appearance.[1][6]

Post-retirement career edit

In 2002, Kim was appointed head coach of the basketball team at his alma mater Myongji High School.[8] During his first season in charge, he led them to success at the spring championships.[9]

He worked as a commentator for SPOTV.[10]

Personal life edit

Kim has two sons who are professional basketball players.[11] He and his first wife divorced and she was granted primary custody of their son Jin-soo, who later adopted his stepfather's surname Choi as an adult.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "[프로농구] '황새' 김유택 코트와 작별". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 27 October 2000.
  2. ^ Lee, Won-joon (April 5, 2008). "Where is the Glory University Basketball?". Chung-Ang Herald. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011.
  3. ^ "[드래프트] 허재·허웅부터 이준호·이종현까지…부자가 같은 팀에서 뛴 역대 사례는?". Jumpball (in Korean). September 29, 2021.
  4. ^ "허동택 트리오, 코트에서 다시 뭉치나? 중앙대-기아자동차 전설들 모처럼 코트에 선다". Jumpball (in Korean). January 22, 2021.
  5. ^ "[농구대잔치]김유택,통산득점 4,000점 『코앞』". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). December 29, 1996.
  6. ^ a b c "한국농구 '고공시대'연 대선수의 은퇴". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 26 May 2005.
  7. ^ "코트의 전설, 그 이름 허동택!". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). March 20, 2000.
  8. ^ "김유택,모교 명지고 농구코치 부임" (in Korean). KBS. 13 September 2002.
  9. ^ "김유택, '모교' 명지고 이끌고 우승...'화려한 데뷔'". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 22 March 2003.
  10. ^ "김유택 감독, 아들 김진영 보며 "마르고 빠른 건 저 닮았죠"". Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). 4 November 2019.
  11. ^ "강동희 아들 강성욱 "허훈 형 기다려"". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). February 28, 2019.

External links edit