Shin Ki-sung (born April 30, 1975) is a South Korean retired professional basketball player and former coach. He played for three different teams in the Korean Basketball League and the South Korean national team. Known for his speed and shooting accuracy, he was nicknamed "Bullet Man" (총알탄 사나이).[1]

Shin Ki-sung
Personal information
Born (1975-04-30) April 30, 1975 (age 49)
South Korea
NationalitySouth Korean
Listed height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Career information
CollegeKorea University
KBL draft1998: 1st round, 7th overall pick
Playing career1998–2012
PositionGuard
Coaching career2013–2019
Career history
As player:
1998–2005Wonju Naray Blue Bird / TG Sambo Xers
2001–2003Sangmu (military service)
2005–2010Busan KTF Magic Wings / KT Sonicboom
2010–2012Incheon E-land Elephants
As coach:
2013–2014Korea University
2014–2016Bucheon KEB Hana Bank
2016–2019Incheon Shinhan Bank S-Birds
Career highlights and awards
As player
Medals
Representing  South Korea
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2002 Busan Team
Shin Ki-sung
Hangul
신기성
Hanja
申基成
Revised RomanizationSin Gi-seong
McCune–ReischauerSin Gisŏng

Since 2019, he has been a commentator for SPOTV and covers KBL games.[2]

Early years

edit

Shin began playing basketball in elementary school.[3] He attended Songdo High School in Incheon.[4]

Playing career

edit

College

edit

At Korea University, Shin was a member of the dominant "Tiger Corps" which included Hyun Joo-yup, Chun Hee-chul and future MVP Kim Byung-chul.[5][6] When he and Hyun were freshmen, rivals Yonsei University were the dominant college team due to seniors Lee Sang-min and Moon Kyung-eun. After Lee and Moon both graduated, Shin and his Korea University teammates were able to win the MBC Cup three consecutive times as well as the National Basketball Festival tournament.[7]

Professional

edit

Wonju (1998–2005)

edit

With Seo Jang-hoon and Hyun Joo-yup attracting the most attention during his college days, Shin's draft ranking was affected and he was picked seventh overall in the 1998 rookie draft. Other than Hyun, the first overall pick, the other players picked before Shin did not have lasting careers in the KBL, leading to Shin being described as the most underestimated player of the draft.[3] He was selected by Wonju Naray Blue Bird and was joined by veteran guard Hur Jae, whom Naray had signed from Busan Kia Enterprise in a trade.[8] Shin was supposed to enlist after the 1999–2000 season ended but delayed his enlistment as he had not reached the age limit yet.[9] Hur was already in his thirties and split scoring duties with Shin and guard Kim Seung-gi (future Anyang KGC head coach).

In June 2001 he enlisted for mandatory military service, together with Hyun, and was assigned to the Sangmu team after completing basic training. They were discharged in 2003.[10]

With the drafting of forward Kim Joo-sung, the newly renamed TG Xers became known as "Speed TG" due to Kim and Shin's scoring tandem and the team's fast-paced offensive strategy.[11][12] They won the 2005 KBL Championship. During the play-offs, he recorded a double-double in both legs of the semi-final against Jeonju KCC Egis.[13] Shin won the KBL Most Valuable Player Award, then the lowest-drafted player on record to win it.

Busan (2005–2010)

edit

After contract negotiations broke down, Shin decided to leave Wonju and signed a five-year contract with Busan KTF Magic Wings.[14] Hyun had just left KTF and the team was looking to rebuild. The following year, KTF drafted shooting guard Cho Sung-min and the duo led the team to the 2007 play-off finals, where they met regular season champions Ulsan Mobis Phoebus. Together with guard Kim Hee-seon, the trio won praise in Game 6 for shutting down Mobis' star guard Yang Dong-geun and limiting him to only 9 points.[15] After winning three out of six games, KTF lost the seventh game.

With Cho enlisting at the end of the 2006–07 season, KTF were unable to replace him and other departing key players for the upcoming season. Meanwhile, Shin came under criticism for his poor form.[16] KTF failed to qualify for the play-offs for the first time since the 2003–04 season. During his last season with the team, he captained them to a runner-up spot in the league table.

Incheon (2010–2012)

edit

Shin joined Incheon Electro Land Elephants in 2010 on a two-year contract. Despite being one of the oldest players on the squad, he contributed to important games with "clutch points" by scoring during the fourth quarter.[17] He retired at the end of the 2011–12 season.[18][1]

National team

edit

Shin was mostly overlooked due to the presence of Lee Sang-min and Kim Seung-hyun. He was named in the final squad for the 2002 Asian Games, 2005 FIBA Asia Championship[19] and the 2007 FIBA Asia Championship.[20]

Post-playing career

edit

Shin returned to his alma mater Korea University as head coach in 2013.[21] He left after a season and joined the coaching staff of WKBL team Bucheon KEB Hana. He served as head coach of WKBL team Incheon Shinhan Bank S-Birds for three seasons, from 2016 to 2019.[22]

Shin had been a guest commentator while he was still coaching. After leaving coaching permanently, he became a full-time commentator for SPOTV.[2][3] He has also made guest appearances on various variety shows, mostly with other retired professional athletes and some of his former teammates.[3][23]

Personal life

edit

Shin married his university girlfriend Park So-yoon, a dancer, in 2001.[24][25] They have two daughters.[26]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "'총알탄 사나이' 신기성, 27년 농구 인생 마감하다". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). June 4, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "'총알탄 사나이' 신기성, 해설 위원으로 돌아온다". Rookie (in Korean). October 3, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d "[김종수의 농구人터뷰③] '총알탄 사나이' 신기성 "이거시 신기성의 인터뷰입니다"". Jumpball (in Korean). September 14, 2021.
  4. ^ "'이거시' 신기성 "설교수 견줄 만한 국내 선수는..." [스포츠What수다]". The Hankyoreh (in Korean). July 4, 2021.
  5. ^ "[스포츠 화제] '오빠부대장' 겨울 코트를 점령하다". J Magazine (JoongAng Ilbo) (in Korean). November 17, 2017.
  6. ^ "'농구선수 인기 많네' 착각 말고, 개인 기량 더 키워야". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). November 20, 2021.
  7. ^ "[농구/MBC배대학대회]서장훈-현주엽 대격돌 예상". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). March 20, 1997.
  8. ^ "프로농구 삼성-나래 간판스타 맞바꾸는 대형 트레이드". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). July 25, 1998.
  9. ^ "신기성, 상무 입대 연기". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). May 2, 2000.
  10. ^ "[농구] 아마추어 무대 상무 시대 개막". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). January 31, 2002.
  11. ^ "신기성 패스·김주성 돌파 '스피드 TG' 못말려". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). November 13, 2003.
  12. ^ "TG 김주성-신기성, 성능 만점 '쌍별'". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). November 9, 2003.
  13. ^ "[KBL 역대 MVP] '총알탄 사나이' 신기성, 최고의 총알이 되다" (in Korean). BasketKorea.com. March 13, 2020.
  14. ^ "신기성, KTF에 새 둥지". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). May 26, 2005.
  15. ^ "양동근 - 조성민 '내일은 없다'". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). May 1, 2007.
  16. ^ "[프로농구] '신교주' KTF 신기성, 부진 논쟁 뜨거워". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). November 14, 2007.
  17. ^ "프로농구/ 녹슬지 않은 신기성…전자랜드 유니폼 갈아 입고 15점 5어시스트 5스틸 펄펄". Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). October 19, 2011.
  18. ^ "'총알탄 사나이' 신기성, 질주를 멈추다" (in Korean). BasketKorea.com. June 4, 2012.
  19. ^ "2005 FIBA Asia Championship — Korea's roster". FIBA.
  20. ^ "2007 FIBA Asia Championship — Korea's roster". FIBA.
  21. ^ "[단독]레전드 포인트가드 신기성, 고려대 코치 발탁". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). November 26, 2013.
  22. ^ "신한은행 신기성 감독, 임기 마무리…"선수들 끝까지 응원해주시길"". Rookie (in Korean). March 10, 2019.
  23. ^ "허재 "'농구대잔치'를 마지막으로 '뭉쏜' 끝난다..아쉬워"" (in Korean). MBC. July 4, 2021.
  24. ^ "[프로농구 소식]삼보 신기성 결혼". The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). May 4, 2001.
  25. ^ "삼보 신기성, 새신랑 된다". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). April 9, 2001.
  26. ^ "'붕어빵' 신기성 딸 지아 양, 깜찍한 외모 '러블리'". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). October 20, 2012.
edit