National basketball team's main scorer Lee Hyun-jung (25) begins his final challenge to reach the NBA. He plans to earn a roster spot by participating in mini-camps for the New Orleans Pelicans and the Boston Celtics in succession.

His agency, Epix Sports, stated on the 9th, "Lee Hyun-jung has received mini-camp invitations from the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans and Boston Celtics." Lee departed for the United States on the 6th and will participate in the New Orleans mini-camp from the 8th to the 13th, followed by the Boston mini-camp from the 16th to the 20th to showcase his skills.

Notably, both teams each have one remaining spot for a 'Two-way contract,' which allows players to move between the NBA and its affiliate G League. Therefore, Lee's performance in these mini-camps is expected to be a crucial factor in determining whether he secures a final contract.

In preparation for this NBA challenge, coordination with the national team schedule has also been perfectly finalized. The Korea Basketball Association viewed Lee's mini-camp participation as a meaningful opportunity not only for the player's personal career but also for strengthening the international competitiveness of Korean basketball, and coordinated the national team and mini-camp schedules in advance.

According to the specific schedule, Lee will head directly to Lebanon on the 20th after completing the Boston mini-camp to join the national team. Through this arrangement, he plans to normally participate in major national team events, including the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Window 4 and the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. However, he will be absent from the Korea-Japan national team exhibition match held in Tokyo, Japan, on the 15th and 16th, as it overlaps with the mini-camp schedule.

Previously, Lee showcased his outstanding three-point shooting ability while playing for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Summer League. At the time, he recorded 12 points against the Milwaukee Bucks, 22 points against the Utah Jazz, and 9 points against the Phoenix Suns, delivering a solid performance, but unfortunately fell short of a final contract.

Epix Sports CEO Kim Byung-wook said, "Officials from both teams positively evaluated Lee's performance in the Summer League," and added, "As there are not many spots left in the NBA, we hope he successfully completes the two mini-camps and advances to the stage he has dreamed of."