Hyundai Mobis should make good use of the various strengths of Kebe Aluma (206cm, F).
Ulsan Hyundai Mobis achieved more than expected with the joining of Gage Prim (205cm, C) in the 2022-2023 season. As Prim, who is good at strength and fighting under the goal, showed his strengths, Hyundai Mobis was able to finish the 2022-2023 season in 4th place in the regular league.
However, the foreign player who had to replace Prim failed to show his skills. Both Justin Knox (204cm, F), who was evaluated as a first option foreign player, and Henry Sims (208cm, C), who joined as a substitute foreign player, were like that.
Also, the styles of Knox, Simms, and Prim were similar. All 3 players based in the paint zone. For that reason, it was difficult for Hyundai Mobis to make changes. This served as a fatal flaw in the playoffs where variables were needed.
Hyundai Mobis coach Jo Dong-hyun also thought about that after the season ended. So, in a phone call with this magazine last May, he mentioned various combinations of foreign players, saying, “Assuming that we catch Prim, we want to select foreign players with a different style from Prim.”
Hyundai Mobis’ first task was to work with Prim. On May 31st, through KBL, it was announced that he had renewed his contract with Prim. We can expect Prim’s control under the goal once again.
The second task is a foreign player to be paired with Prim. In a press release on the 8th, Hyundai Mobis said, “We are recruiting Kebe Aluma as a new foreign player for the 2023-2024 season. After graduating from Virginia Tech University, Kebe Alumah played an active part in the 2022-2023 season of Niigata Albirex in the Japanese B League.”
He continued, “Kebe Alumah can play both inside and outside based on his great height. He has multiple attack options. In addition, he has a different style from Gage Prim, so we expect several synergies with domestic players in the team,” adding the effect of Aluma’s joining.
Aluma can do both post-up and face-up. He has good floaters in the mid-range and can throw 3s in front of some block shots. His attack points are varied. He has the ability to quickly switch between offense and defense and the amount of activity, such as participating in fast attacks and participating in rebounds, and is also capable of altruistic play such as scoring and passing.
Hyundai Mobis coach Jo Dong-hyun also said, “In Japan, I focused a little more on outside play, but in college, I was better at playing behind the net. Several options seem possible. He can handle multiple positions,” and thought Aluma’s versatility was good.
It is true that foreign players with a different style from Prim came to Hyundai Mobis. However, how to use it is more important to Hyundai Mobis. In particular, it is important how to adjust the proportion below the bone and the proportion outside the bone. This is because the weight of Aluma’s interior and exterior can determine Hyundai Mobis’ attack frame.
In addition, KBL has a variety of defensive tactics compared to college basketball and the Japanese B League that Aluma encountered. The check on foreign players is also severe. When the other 9 clubs play cooperative defense around the paint zone, Aluma must show both fighting power and relaxation under the goal at the same time.
So is the defense. To be specific, it is a defense that endures. Digging deeper, it is how to control big men like Jamil Warney (Seoul SK) and Asem Marai (Changwon LG) who push through with their bodies. Since Alouma has never demonstrated such capability, no one can be sure whether Alouma will adapt to KBL or not.메이저놀이터
Hyundai Mobis knows this better than anyone else. Nevertheless, I chose Aluma. This is because it gave high marks to ‘Aluma’s versatility’ and ‘Aluma, which is different from Prim’. So the Hyundai Mobis coaching staff, including head coach Dong-hyun Cho, now have to think a lot. It is because you have to teach Aluma how to melt into KBL and choose Aluma’s strengths according to the situation.