South Korea's Lee Hyun-jung talks about Filipino B.League rivals and big dreams from NBA Summer League

There are a few Asian players competing in this year’s NBA Summer League, and one of them is South Korean standout Lee Hyun-jung.

The sharpshooter is suiting up for the San Antonio Spurs’ Summer League squad alongside 2026 first-round pick Tarris Reed Jr. and last year’s lottery selection Carter Bryant.

Before arriving in Las Vegas, Lee spent the past few seasons in Japan’s B.League, where he regularly matched up against some of the Philippines’ biggest basketball stars, including Ray Parks Jr., Kiefer Ravena, and Kai Sotto. Those battles gave him a firsthand look at what Filipino players can bring to the court.

“They’re really skillful. I feel like their confidence level is high. I think I need to learn that. Wherever they play, they have a high confidence level. Maybe I need to learn from them,” Lee told GMA News after San Antonio’s win over the New York Knicks.

The 24-year-old has also made the most of his opportunities in Las Vegas. Despite limited minutes, he has produced whenever his number has been called. His best outing so far came during the California Classic, where he scored 11 points in just 17 minutes to showcase the shooting ability and efficiency that has kept him in the NBA conversation.

Lee admitted that earning minutes in the Summer League is challenging because of the level of competition and limited opportunities available. Still, he believes Filipino players can handle both the pressure and physicality.

Asked who he thinks could thrive in that environment, one name immediately came to mind.

“Dwight Ramos can. He’s strong, he’s skillful, he can play great defense. I remember him a lot because he hit a big clutch shot against us,” Lee said.

The game he was referring to came during Levanga Hokkaido’s victory over Nagasaki Velca last season, when Ramos came up with a crucial steal before scoring the go-ahead layup in the closing moments.

Only a handful of Filipinos have ever stepped onto an NBA stage, but South Korean star believes the talent is there to compete at the highest level. For aspiring Filipino and other Asian players hoping to follow a similar path, his message was simple:

“Don’t set your limits. Keep chasing your dreams. Dream big. Dream something impossible so you can chase something.”

—JMB, GMA News