"As I go through my farewell tour, I feel bittersweet thinking 'this is really the end.' But right now, winning matters more than retirement. I want to win as many games as possible until the end, rather than having personal spotlight."
Ham Ji-hoon (42) made these remarks in an interview with Seoul Economic Daily at Hyundai Mobis's practice gym in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, saying "the ultimate dopamine in my playing career is championship."
"The journey to a championship is incredibly tough, but when you finally reach the top, it feels like everything is rewarded," he said. "I hope my younger teammates experience winning a championship at least once. Once you know that feeling, you'll keep wanting to win, and your perspective on basketball will change."
Ham Ji-hoon, the living legend of Ulsan Hyundai Mobis in the Korean Basketball League (KBL), will leave the court after this season. He is visiting all 10 team arenas to bid farewell to fans. His retirement ceremony will be held during the final regular-season home game against Changwon LG on April 8.
"Now that I'm actually retiring from basketball after 20-30 years, I'm experiencing many emotions," he said. "As the retirement ceremony approaches, I feel relieved yet wistful." He added, "My first child is in 6th grade and my second is in 2nd grade. I'm really proud that I played long enough for my kids to remember me as a basketball player."
Born in 1984, Ham is the oldest active player in the KBL. Drafted in the first round as the 10th pick in 2007, he has played exclusively for Hyundai Mobis for 18 seasons, excluding military service, earning him "one-club man" status. He holds the franchise's all-time scoring record with 8,354 points and the league record for most regular-season games played at 846. He has lifted the championship trophy five times and swept both regular season and playoff MVP awards in the 2009-2010 season. Hyundai Mobis plans to retire his jersey number 12.
"I've spent more time with Hyundai Mobis than with my family. I was lucky to join a great organization from the start. They've been like parents who provided a foundation for me to grow as a player," Ham said. "I'm also deeply grateful to Mobis fans. I reached this point because of them. Receiving their unconditional love here has been the greatest honor of my life."
An inseparable figure in Ham's career is Hyundai Mobis head coach Yang Dong-geun. Ham won all five championships alongside Yang during their playing days together. Yang is also credited for Ham's longevity. As a player, Yang was renowned in the KBL for his diligence and meticulous fitness management.
"I naturally learned from Dong-geun's diligence and body management methods throughout my career. I thought it was only natural to do as he did," Ham said. "I wanted to retire with six championship rings together with Dong-geun, but I'm disappointed that dream won't come true." Hyundai Mobis, led by Yang in his first season as head coach, currently sits in 8th place with a 15-27 record.
