The Lion King (36, 200 cm) has finally awakened.

After the end of last season, Oh was in the spotlight more than ever. That’s because he left his 12-year stint with Anyang and found a new home with Seoul SK. SK could now field a lineup of Kim Sun-hyung, Heo Il-young, Oh Se-geun, and Jamil Warney. With Ahn returning from military service in November, the team was considered a strong favorite to win the title alongside Busan KCC. 캡틴토토

But early in the season, Oh failed to live up to expectations. After undergoing an offseason Achilles’ tendon procedure, he had little time to rehabilitate and improve his form, averaging just 5.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 22 minutes and 26 seconds in the opening nine games. His field goal percentage was particularly poor at 31.0%. SK, who were the favorites to win the title, finished in the middle of the pack with 5 wins and 4 losses.

The second-round matchup between Suwon KT and SK in the 2023-2024 Korean Professional Basketball League was held at the Suwon KT Sonic Boom Arena on the 17th. Before the game, SK head coach Jeon Hee-cheol said, “We need (Oh) Se-geun and (Kim) Sun-hyung to get healthy this month. We have a very tight schedule for the next five weeks starting in mid-December. It includes a trip to the Philippines for the EASL (East Asian Super League). He needs to get back in shape quickly to be able to hold up physically during that time,” he said, desperately hoping for a rebound.

Osegun proved his worth against KT. He recorded a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds in just 21 minutes and 51 seconds of play. It was his most points and first double-double since joining SK. He shot 9 of 15 from the field, including 1 of 3 from three-point range. His field goal percentage was a whopping 60.0%. He also contributed on defense, adding a steal and a blocked shot.

The game marked the return of Ahn Young-jun, who returned from 16 days of military service. Ahn earned a passing grade with 16 points, two rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one blocked shot. Along with Oh and Kim Sun-hyung (10 points, 5 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 steals, and 1 blocked shot), SK cruised to a 102-87 victory over KT. They improved to 6-4 on the season and jumped to third place in the standings.

After the game, head coach Jeon Hee-chul said, “Ironically, (Ahn) Young-joon came in and saved the day. Se-geun and Seon-hyung came alive as the spacing became better. They are very good players, so I don’t think they will be lost now that they have found their groove. Thanks to them, the team ran smoothly in all aspects. I’m very happy for them,” he said, expressing his satisfaction.

Lion King’s Oh Se-geun roared for the first time in a long time against KT. It will be interesting to see if he can continue to maintain the feeling of being revitalized as coach Jeon Hee-cheol said. If he continues to play like he did today, SK will be able to look to the future.