Game Notes: Group B – New Taipei Kings (0-0) vs. Seoul SK Knights (1-1)

November 8, 2023 – New Taipei Xinzhuang Gymnasium, New Taipei City, Chinese Taipei

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Storylines:

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1. Will Jeremy Lin know who Kim Sun Hyung is after the game?

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Former NBA pro-Jeremy Lin will make his EASL debut on Wednesday.  It will be a tough first outing for the New Taipei Kings against Seoul SK Knights, even if the Korean Basketball League team’s names are not as well-known.

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When Lin was asked in an interview last week if he was excited to face last season’s KBL MVP Kim Sun Hyung, Lin revealed that he was unfamiliar with Kim. Speaking to EASL last week, Kim responded, with the greatest of respect to his opponent, that he didn’t mind if Lin had not heard of him, but “… he will know of me after the game.”

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2. Kings make their EASL debut

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New Taipei Kings are one of two teams yet to play in the EASL 2023-24 Season, alongside the PBA’s Meralco Bolts. The Kings are bringing considerable firepower to start their EASL campaign.

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Aside from Jeremy Lin, New Taipei also carry: former NBA pro Byron Mullens, who led the P. LEAGUE+ with 15.7 rebounds last season; Kenny Manigault, who was last season’s assist and steals leader and was only the twelfth player in professional basketball history to record a quadruple-double, posting a line of 22 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists and 10 steals against the Dreamers in March; and Jeremy’s brother Joseph, who recorded career-highs last season, averaging 13.0 points and 5.0 assists per game.

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This will be the first time home fans see the team’s new lineup, with former NBA pro Tony Mitchell and NCAA UC Davis standout Christian Anigwe coming on as new imports to the team. The P. LEAGUE+ does not tip off until November 11.

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3. SK look to build off momentum

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Seoul SK Knights are coming off a convincing victory over defending B.LEAGUE champions Ryukyu Golden Kings last week, when Leon Williams led the way with 23 points and 17 rebounds.

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They may also get their star center back. After Jameel Warney missed three straight games last week, he returned to KBL action this past weekend with a 22-point, 13-board double-double in the team’s game against Changwon LG Sakers.

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Warney was on fire earlier in the season, recording 38 points in his first EASL game, against Ryukyu Golden Kings on October 18, followed by a 46-point haul against Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters on the opening day of the KBL season on October 21.

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By the Numbers:

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New Taipei Kings (P. LEAGUE+)

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- Team History:

• Founded: 2021
• Honors: 2022-23 P. LEAGUE+ runners-up

- 2022-23 P. LEAGUE+ Runners-Up

• Regular season record: 27-13
• P. LEAGUE+ Regular Season Champions
• Playoffs: defeated Dreamers 3-1 in semifinals; lost to Taipei Fubon Braves 4-2 in P. LEAGUE+ Finals

- P. LEAGUE+ 2022-23 Season stat leaders:

• Points: Byron Mullens – 20.5 ppg
• Rebounds: Byron Mullens – 14.7 rpg
• Assists: Kenny Manigault – 6.0 apg
• Steals: Kenny Manigault – 3.6 spg
• Blocks: Byron Mullens – 1.4 bpg

Seoul SK Knights (KBL)

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- Team History:

• Founded: 1997
• Honors: 3x KBL Champions (1999-00, 2017-18, 2021-22); 2x EASL Runners Up (2019 Terrific 12, 2023 EASL Champions Week)

- EASL 2023-24 Season record: 1-1

• October 18, 2023: 80-79 loss against Ryukyu Golden Kings
• November 1, 2023: 82-69 win over Ryukyu Golden Kings

- EASL 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

• Points: Jameel Warney – 39.0 ppg
• Rebounds: Leon Williams – 13.5 rpg
• Assists: Kim Sun Hyung – 8.0 apg
• Steals: Leon Williams – 3.5 spg
• Blocks: Jameel Warney – 2.0 bpg

- EASL History:

• 2023 EASL Champions Week: Seoul SK Knights went 2-1, defeating Bay Area Dragons 92-84 and PBA side TNT Tropang Giga 80-69 in the Group Stage. They lost to KBL side Anyang KGC 90-84 in the Final.
• 2019 Terrific 12: Seoul SK Knights went 3-1, beating PBA side Blackwater Elite and B.LEAGUE side Chiba Jets in the Group Stage. SK defeated CBA side Zhejiang Lions in the semifinals before falling to CBA side Liaoning Flying Leopards in the finals.

- KBL 2023-24 Season record: 3-3

• October 21, 2023: 89-74 win over Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters
• October 22, 2023: 85-80 win over Suwon KT Sonicboom
• October 24, 2023: 90-79 win over Goyang Sono Skygunners
• October 27, 2023: 78-67 loss against Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus
• October 29, 2023: 96-94 loss against Daegu KOGAS Pegasus
• November 4, 2023: 69-50 loss against Changwon LG Sakers

- KBL 2023-24 Season stat leaders:

• Points: Jameel Warney – 31.0 ppg
• Rebounds: Jameel Warney – 13.5 rpg
• Assists: Kim Sun Hyung – 6.0 apg
• Steals: Juan Gómez de Liaño – 1.5 spg
• Blocks: Kim Sun Hyung – 0.5 bpg

- 2022-23 KBL season:

• Runners-up in 2022-23 KBL season
• Regular season record: 36-18
• Second in the regular season
• Playoffs: defeated Jeonju KCC Egis 3-0 in quarterfinals; defeated Changwon LG Sakers 3-0 in semifinals; lost to Anyang KGC 4-3 in KBL Finals

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Players to Watch:

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New Taipei Kings:

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#7 Jeremy Lin – PG

- USA NCAA Division 1: Harvard (2006-2010)

• 2× First-team All-Ivy League (2009, 2010)
• Second-team All-Ivy League (2008)

- Former NBA player (Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors)

• NBA Career Stats: 480 games – 11.6 ppg, 4.3 apg, 2.8 rpg, 1.1 spg
• NBA: 2019 NBA Champion (Toronto Raptors)
• 2012 NBA TV Social Breakout Player of the Year

- Former NBA G League player (Reno Bighorns, Erie Bayhawks, Santa Cruz Warriors)

- China: 2020 CBA All-Star (Beijing Ducks)

- Chinese Taipei: 2023 P. LEAGUE+ Assists Leader (Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers)

- 2012 Time 100: Most Influential People of the Year

- 2012 ESPY Award for Breakthrough Athlete of the Year

- 2022-23 P. LEAGUE+ season (Kaohsiung 17LIVE Steelers):

• 26.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 8.9 apg, 1.8 spg

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#5 Byron Mullens – C

- USA NCAA Division 1: Ohio State (2008-2009)

- Former NBA player (Oklahoma City Thunder, Charlotte Bobcats, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers)

• NBA Career Stats: 189 games – 7.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.5 apg

- Former NBA G League player (Tulsa 66ers, Sioux Falls Skyforce, Lakeland Magic)

- 2022-23 P. LEAGUE+ season:

• 20.5 ppg, 14.7 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.4 bpg

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#1 Joseph Lin – G

- USA NCAA Division 3: Hamilton College (2011-2015)

- 2x P. LEAGUE+ Champion (Taipei Fubon Braves: 2021, 2022)

- 2019 SBL Champion (Taipei Fubon Braves)

• 4x SBL All-Star (2016-2019)

- 2022-23 P. LEAGUE+ season:

• 13.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.3 spg

Seoul SK Knights:

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#5 Kim Sun Hyung – PG

- South Korea: KBL

• 2x KBL Champion (2017-18, 2021-22)
• 2013 KBL regular season champion
• 2x KBL MVP (2013, 2023)
• 2023 KBL Guard of the Year
• 2011 KBL Draft: 2^nd overall pick

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 12.0 ppg, 8.0 apg, 1.0 spg

- 2023-24 KBL season:

• 8.5 ppg, 6.0 apg, 3.0 rpg, 1.0 spg

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#34 Jameel Warney – C

- USA NCAA Division 1: Stony Brook (2012-2016)

• 3x AP honorable mention All-American (2014-2016)
• 3x NCAA America East Player of the Year (2014-2016)
• 3× NCAA All-America East First Team (2014–2016)
• 2× America East Defensive Player of the Year (2015, 2016)
• 2013 NCAA America East Rookie of the Year
• 2016 NCAA America East tournament MVP
• No. 20 retired by Stony Brook University

- Former NBA player (Dallas Mavericks)

• NBA career stats: 3 games – 5.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg

- Former NBA G-League player (Texas Legends, Westchester Knicks)

• 2018 All-NBA G-League First Team

- 2017 FIBA AmeriCup MVP

- 2017 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year

- South Korea: KBL – Seoul SK Knights

• 3x KBL Import of the Year (2020, 2022, 2023)
• 3x All-KBL Team (2020, 2022, 2023)
• 2023 KBL Top Scorer (24.0 ppg)

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 39.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 2.0 bpg

- 2023-24 KBL season stats:

• 31.0 ppg, 13.5 rpg, 3.8 apg

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#11 Heo Il Young – SF

- 2008 KBA Basketball Festival Men’s Top Scorer Award

- 2010 Sports Toto Korea Basketball Awards Rookie of the Year Award

- 2013 3rd EABA East Asia Men's Basketball Champion

- South Korea: 2009 KBL Draft: 2^nd overall pick

- South Korea: 2x KBL Champion (2015-16 – Goyang Orions; 2021-22 – Seoul SK Knights)

- South Korea National Basketball Team:

• 2007 Summer Universiade Basketball Men
• 2013 EABA East Asia Men's Basketball Championship
• 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup
• 2014 Asian Games (Gold Medal)
• 2016 William Jones Cup

- EASL 2023-24 Season stats:

• 10.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg

- 2023-24 KBL season:

• 12.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.0 spg