1. Early life and education
Kim Min-goo was born on June 24, 1991, in Suwon, South Korea. He attended Maesan Elementary School, Samil Middle School, and Samil Commercial High School, all located in Suwon. During his time at Samil Commercial High School, Kim was schoolmates with future professional basketball player Lee Dae-sung, and together they led the team to success at the National High School Basketball Championship in 2008. In the final game of that championship, Kim notably scored 14 points in the first quarter alone, although he was later sent off for accumulating too many fouls.
2. College career
Kim Min-goo enrolled at Kyung Hee University, where he became a prominent member of the university's basketball team. Alongside his contemporaries, Kim Jong-kyu and future KBL MVP Doo Kyung-min, this formidable trio led Kyung Hee University to unprecedented success. They achieved back-to-back sweeps of the regular season title, championship, and MBC Cup, effectively breaking the long-standing dominance of the traditional "big three" of college basketball, which included Yonsei University, Korea University, and Chung-Ang University.
Kim became the team's starting guard and was nicknamed "Kyung Hee's Kobe" due to his exceptional performance. He was recognized as the U-League regular season MVP twice. In the 2011 season, as a sophomore, Kim averaged 19.1 points, 5.9 assists, and 8.4 rebounds per game, earning a reputation as the best guard in the college league. His performance helped his team secure the national championship that year. As a junior in the 2012 season, Kim continued to impress, averaging 22.6 points, 5.8 assists, and 6.1 rebounds. He was named the Regular Season MVP for the second consecutive year and played a crucial role in leading his team to its second national championship. During this season, he set a U-League record for the most assists in a single game with 17, a record that stood until April 2021.
3. Professional career
Kim Min-goo's professional career in the KBL began with his selection in the 2013 draft, followed by stints with Jeonju KCC Egis, Wonju DB Promy, and Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus before his eventual retirement.
3.1. Jeonju KCC Egis (2013-2019)
Kim Min-goo was selected as the second overall pick in the 2013 KBL rookie draft. This marked a rare and significant occasion, as his Kyung Hee University teammates, Kim Jong-kyu and Doo Kyung-min, were selected first and third overall, respectively. This meant that the top three picks in the rookie draft were all from the same university, rather than from one of the traditional "big three" college basketball programs. Having been dubbed the "second Hur Jae" during his college years, Kim was drafted by Jeonju KCC Egis, a team then coached by Hur Jae himself.
Kim made his league debut on October 26, 2013, against the Seoul Samsung Thunders, contributing 12 points and 6 assists. Despite being a rookie, he quickly established himself as a key player for his team. In his rookie season, he averaged 13.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. However, his promising career was significantly derailed on June 7, 2014, when he was involved in a serious traffic accident. While driving under the influence of alcohol, he ran a red light, colliding with a traffic light on Teheran-ro in Gangnam, Seoul, while heading towards Samsung Bridge. The accident caused severe injuries to his hip joint, head, and knee, posing a significant threat to his playing career. It was also revealed that he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time. His blood alcohol level was above the legal limit, resulting in the suspension of his driving license.
The accident forced Kim into a lengthy rehabilitation period that lasted for over a year. He was unable to participate in the 2014 Asian Games and the 2014 FIBA World Cup, and subsequently missed the entire 2014-15 KBL season and a significant portion of the 2015-16 season. Due to his prolonged absence, Jeonju KCC Egis signed another guard, Kim Ji-hoo, during the 2014 rookie draft to compensate for Kim Min-goo's void. By the time Kim Min-goo was able to return to play, he was regarded as surplus to the team's needs and was sent to the D-League reserve team. The emergence of Kim Ji-hoo and the signing of veteran guard Lee Jung-hyun in 2017 further limited his opportunities and playing time. At the end of the 2018-19 season, he became a free agent. However, a lack of interest from other teams compelled him to renegotiate his contract for a significantly lower salary. Subsequently, he was traded to Wonju DB Promy in exchange for Park Ji-hoon.
3.2. Wonju DB Promy (2019-2020)
Kim Min-goo joined Wonju DB Promy for the 2019-20 season, reuniting with his university teammate Kim Jong-kyu. With the discharge of Doo Kyung-min from military service in January 2020, the former Kyung Hee University trio was reunited on the same professional team for the first time since college.
Although Kim was initially expected to be a bench player, he gained increased playing time due to injuries sustained by the main shooting guards, Heo Ung and Kim Hyun-ho. His unexpected performance helped to fill the void left by these key players. When Heo Ung returned from injury, Kim formed an effective partnership with him, contributing to Wonju DB Promy's strong performance, which saw them top the league rankings. Unfortunately, the 2019-20 KBL season was prematurely concluded due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the season's results were ultimately forfeited.
3.3. Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus (2020-2021)
In 2020, Kim Min-goo signed a two-year contract with Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus. This move reunited him with coach Yoo Jae-hak, under whom he had previously played for the national team. At the conclusion of the 2020-21 season, it was announced that Kim and the team had mutually agreed to terminate his contract.
This announcement came as a surprise to many, as Kim was still considered an important substitute player and was expected to complete his contract. Although his physical condition had never fully recovered to its pre-accident state, the decision to retire earlier than expected was largely driven by his knee reaching its "limit," as he publicly stated. The persistent physical challenges stemming from his 2014 accident ultimately led to his difficult decision to retire from professional basketball at a relatively young age.
4. National team career
Kim Min-goo had a notable career representing South Korea in international basketball competitions. In August 2011, while still a collegiate player, he was selected for the South Korean collegiate national team to compete in the 2011 Summer Universiade.
As a senior in 2013, Kim was selected for the South Korean national team to participate in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship. During the tournament, he primarily served as the backup shooting guard, stepping in when starter Cho Sung-min was off the court. Despite his role, Kim made a significant impact, averaging 12.7 points, 2.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds in just 19.9 minutes per game. He also distinguished himself by leading the entire tournament with 25 three-point field goals made across nine games.
Although Team Korea did not win the championship, losing to the Philippines in the semifinal game, they successfully clinched a spot for the following year's FIBA World Cup by defeating Chinese Taipei 75-57 in the third-place game. In the semifinal match against the Philippines, Kim delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 27 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field, including 5-of-11 from three-point range. In the third-place game against Chinese Taipei, he again led Team Korea with a game-high 21 points, shooting 5-of-10 from beyond the arc. For his exceptional contributions, Kim Min-goo was named to the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship All-Star Team. He also participated in the 2013 EABA East Asia Men's Basketball Championship, where the South Korean team emerged victorious.
5. Awards and achievements
Kim Min-goo received several individual and team accolades throughout his basketball career:
- 2013 FIBA Asia Championship All-Star Selection
- 2013 FIBA Asia Championship Best 5
- 2013 EABA East Asia Men's Basketball Championship Winner
- 2012 KB Kookmin Bank University Basketball League Non-Quantitative Regular Season MVP
- U-League Regular Season MVP (twice)
- Bronze Medal, 2013 FIBA Asia Championship
6. Controversies and incidents
On June 7, 2014, Kim Min-goo was involved in a significant traffic accident that resulted from his drunk driving. At approximately 3:06 AM, after consuming alcohol with acquaintances, he drove his car on Teheran-ro in Gangnam, Seoul, heading towards Samsung Bridge, and collided with a traffic light. His blood alcohol level was found to be above the legal limit, leading to the suspension of his driving license.
The accident caused severe injuries to Kim's head, knee, and hip joint, posing a serious threat to his professional basketball career. He was immediately transported to Asan Medical Center in Seoul for treatment and hospitalization. As a direct consequence of his injuries, he was removed from the national team roster for the 2014 Asian Games and the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Furthermore, he missed the entirety of the 2014-15 KBL season and a substantial portion of the 2015-16 season while undergoing rehabilitation.
In September 2015, the KBL announced its disciplinary action, issuing a warning to Kim Min-goo instead of a suspension, citing the ongoing uncertainty of his playing career. He was also ordered to complete 120 hours of community service. This decision, coupled with the absence of an official statement or apology from his team, Jeonju KCC Egis, sparked considerable public outcry among sports fans. Many labeled the punishment as "light" compared to penalties imposed on athletes from other sports for similar offenses. Despite acknowledging that his severe physical injuries could be considered a form of self-punishment, Jeonju KCC Egis's management faced significant criticism for their perceived failure to adequately address the incident and its public repercussions.
7. Retirement
Kim Min-goo's retirement from professional basketball came at a relatively young age, officially announced after the conclusion of the 2020-21 KBL season. His decision was primarily driven by the cumulative and persistent physical toll that the sport had taken on his body, particularly the long-term effects of the severe injuries sustained in his 2014 drunk driving accident.
Although he had made a comeback and was still considered a valuable substitute player for Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus, his physical condition, especially his knee, never fully recovered to its pre-accident state. Kim himself revealed that his knee had "reached its limit," indicating that the ongoing pain and physical limitations made it impossible for him to continue playing at a professional level. This personal struggle with chronic injury ultimately led to his difficult decision to retire earlier than initially anticipated, despite having signed a two-year contract with Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus.