South Korea's men's basketball team beat Japan 67-57 in the final of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games to take gold, returning to the top of Asia for the first time since the 2014 Incheon Games.

Lee Hyun-jung was at the center of the final, finishing with 27 points, 18 rebounds, three assists and two steals while dominating at both ends.

Japan, backed by a home crowd, pressed on defense from the opening minutes but was outworked on the boards and could not generate enough offensive possessions. South Korea held the hosts to 57 points.

In the semifinal, South Korea had beaten Iran to reach the final. With Lee's form continuing from the group stage through to the final, the team's scoring structure was judged to have steadied.

The 12-year gap reflects the intervening ups and downs. After a period combining generational change with weak international results, players with experience in European and American competition have become the core of the squad.

Japanese media also gave the result prominent coverage. Expectations had been high for the hosts, and while the reports conveyed disappointment, they largely acknowledged the performance of the opposing star.