{
  "id": 6103489,
  "title": "S. Korean forward Lee Hyun-jung signs Exhibit 10 deal with NBA's Portland",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/s-korean-forward-lee-hyun-jung-signs-exhibit-10-deal-with-nbas",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-07T05:36:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yonhap News",
    "slug": "yonhap-news",
    "url": "https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260907005400315"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Korean basketball player Lee Hyun-jung has inked a non-guaranteed contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, according to his agency. The Exhibit 10 deal, which is a one-year contract offering a minimum salary, provides Lee with an opportunity to earn a spot on the NBA team during training camp later this fall. If he fails to make the cut, Lee will still receive a bonus for participating in the Trail Blazers' G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix. The agreement could potentially be converted to a two-way contract, allowing Lee to split time between the NBA and G League. Lee, 25, aspires to begin an NBA career, although he had initially hoped for a two-way contract at the start. Prior to the NBA draft, Lee played college basketball at Davidson and suffered a foot injury just days before the draft. Since then, he has played in Australia and Japan, including a stint with the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Summer League. As a sophomore, Lee achieved the impressive 50-40-90 shooting percentage - 50.8% from the field, 44.2% from three-point range, and 90% from the free-throw line. A basketball player from a family of athletes, Lee Hyun-jung is set to represent South Korea in the Asian Games, which begin in Nagoya, Japan on Thursday. Only one South Korean has ever played in the NBA: Ha Seung-jin, a 7-foot-3 center who was selected 46th overall by the Trail Blazers in 2004 and played 46 games across two seasons.",
  "summary": "SEOUL, Sept. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korean sharpshooter Lee Hyun-jung signed a non-...",
  "key_points": [
    "South Korean forward Lee Hyun-jung signs one-year contract with Portland Trail Blazers",
    "Exhibit 10 deal offers minimum salary, opportunity to earn NBA spot",
    "If not making cut, Lee receives bonus for G League participation"
  ],
  "editors_take": "This deal gives Lee a foothold in the NBA, with a chance to upgrade to a two-way contract and playing time, or at least a guaranteed stint in the G League.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Korean forward Lee Hyun-jung signs Exhibit 10 deal with NBA's Portland",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/korean-forward-lee-hyun-jung-signs-exhibit-10-deal-with-nbas-portland",
        "published": "2026-09-07T06:37:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}