Professional
Heo was the second overall pick of the 2009 KBL rookie draft and was chosen by Daegu Orions,which later moved to Goyang and became Goyang Orion Orions. [7] [8] Although he came from a lesser-known college basketball program,he emerged as the Orions' brightest prospects and dubbed the team's "solver" due to him scoring decisive points in the fourth quarter of crucial games. [6] He finished his rookie season with an average of 10.5 points in 51 games. [9]
In May 2012,Heo enlisted for mandatory military service and was assigned to the Sangmu team after completing basic training. [10] He was discharged in January 2014. [11] [12]
During the 2019–20,Heo was plagued by a recurring hamstring injury which sidelined him for more than half the season's games. [13] After the 2020-21 season ended,he became a free agent but chose not to renew with the Orions. [14] He signed a three-year contract with Seoul SK Knights ahead of the 2021-22 season. [15] [16]
Following the conclusion of the 2023–24 KBL season,Heo Il-young entered free agency and signed a two-year contract with the Changwon LG Sakers on May 17,2024. The agreement included an annual salary of ₩250 million for the first year. [17] With the retirement of Kim Kang-seon,his former Goyang captain,at the end of that season,Heo remained the sole active player from the 2009 KBL draft class. With his 1985-born counterparts all having retired over the past few seasons,he and Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus captain Ham Ji-hoon became the two oldest registered players in the KBL.
In the 2024–25 season,Heo played a pivotal role in the LG Sakers' playoff run. His leadership and clutch performances were instrumental in the team's success,culminating in a historic victory in the KBL Finals. The Sakers clinched their first championship title in franchise history by defeating the Seoul SK Knights in a seven-game series. Heo's outstanding contributions during the playoffs earned him the Playoffs MVP,his first individual award. [18] He became the first player to win the Championship with three different teams and the oldest recipient of the Playoffs MVP at age 39. [19] [20]
