The author 2sazang’s Naver webtoon, Garbage Time, reached its ending on October 21st. This is the story of the greatest team in the world that cannot meet “garbage time,” the period in a sports game when a coach, whose team is losing by a significant score, declares surrender by substituting reserve players. The team, forever running in the hearts of its readers, is now waiting for you. Recharge the energy of courage through Garbage Time, which tells the story of youth.
Best Players on Earth. Jisang
-Synopsis (*Spoiler Alert)
At Busan’s Jisang High School basketball team, the weakest team in the nation, Coach Lee Hyun-seong is newly appointed. The Jisang High School basketball team is a ragtag group without a single replacement player that delivers disastrous performances, even losing to middle school teams. There is no fellowship among the team members, as conflicts occur almost every day. Therefore, they are faced with elimination in the preliminary round of the first half of the Association President’s Cup Championship. However, after thoroughly analyzing their capabilities and practical experience on the court, every member discovers their strengths. Will the Jisang basketball team come to understand the meaning of basketball as a team sport?
-Players of Jisang
Reasons Why Readers Cannot Help Falling into Garbage Time
-Growth of the Youth
One of the charms of Garbage Time is that, while it portrays the protagonist’s growth similar to typical sports comics, it does not adhere to the same cliché. The players’ skill development is explosive in a short period, not through creating something out of nothing but by discovering their hidden strengths. For example, the protagonist, Ki Sangho, is underestimated in his abilities at first. However, this condition allows him to improve in observing and analyzing other players. Besides his observational skills, his superior athletic abilities enable him to be the “ace stopper,” as he successfully blocks ace players from other elite teams. Another significant character is Jin Jae-yu, the ace player of Jisang, initially known as the “youngest goner.” Through a confrontation against Shinyoo High School, he leverages Lee Hyun-seong’s advice to establish himself as the core of Jisang. Another element that challenges Jisang High School is the internal conflicts primarily revolving between Sung Jun-su and Gong Tae-seong. Early on, these conflicts lead to mutual blaming after games, sometimes escalating to physical altercations. However, they eventually strengthen their bond through quarrels, which also brings joy to the readers. Such a significant growth of Jisang is made by the coach, Lee Hyunseong. When the team is losing against Jangdo High School by 20 points, he encourages the players that their situation is an inescapable fate. As an empowering figure, Lee Hyunseong boosts their morale and provides practical advice for performance analysis and conflict resolution.
-Cruel Reality in Fiction
Garbage Time also appeals to many readers by depicting the world of high school basketball realistically as an elite sport in Korea. The character that represents harsh reality is Sung Jun-su. Due to his lack of skills, he transferred to Jisang High School from Wonjoong High School which has an elite basketball team. Therefore, he is sensitive because of the pressure of having to reach the quarterfinal to get bonus points for university admission. This sensitivity indicates that he recognizes basketball games as part of the college entrance exam. Shinyoo High School’s Kang Inseok and Cho Shin-woo also highlight the customs of university admissions for student-athletes. Seogyo University makes a deal that they would additionally accept Shin-woo as an updoongyi — a player who must leave the team after a certain period for more talented players — if In-seok applies to Seogyo while giving up going to higher-ranking universities. This tradition becomes despair for Shin-woo, who dreams of having a professional career. By exposing this hidden convention, Garbage Time reveals the harsh reality of the world of sports, where pure passion alone is not enough to succeed.
Determination Toward Basketball
In Garbage Time, each character makes different courageous choices based on their love and passion for basketball. Kim Gi-jeong from Jinhun High School grew up playing basketball due to his outstanding talent and his father, who was a professional player. He feels exhausted working as a sports player and considers quitting basketball before the Ssangyong Cup. However, he concludes that he cannot quit with lingering doubts and completes his last game in the Ssangyong Cup’s semi-final, showing the courage to give up basketball, which has been a lifelong companion. Next, Cho Shin-woo shows the bravery to continue playing his own style of basketball. Even though he could have entered Seogyo University as an updoongyi player, Shin-woo believes that he will pursue his own goals in basketball, even if it means playing in the second league. Also, through Park Byung-chan’s case, who shows his passion to continue despite two years of being out due to a severe knee injury, Garbage Time captivates the hearts of its readers.
