Character Relationship Map: Rebound

Characters

• Kang Yang-hyun (played by Ahn Jae-hong) — protagonist

  A young social worker and former national tournament MVP who graduated from Busan Jungang. Appointed to coach its struggling basketball team, he rebuilds the squad after players leave and makes winnin...

• Cheon Gi-beom (played by Lee Sin-young) — supporting

  A Busan Jungang player who is central to Kang Yang-hyun's initial offensive plan: the coach directs the team to get the ball to the powerful, unusually tall center. As the tournament develops, Gi-beom...

• Bae Gyu-hyuk (played by Jeong Jin-woon) — supporting

  A Busan Jungang player who returns to basketball after an ankle injury. He questions Kang Yang-hyun's early strategy of directing the offense toward the center, asking whether the rest of the team sho...

• Heo Jae-yoon (played by Kim Min) — supporting

  An inexperienced Busan Jungang player who initially struggles to understand defensive assignments, including during a game against Jemulpo. Kang Yang-hyun tells him to focus on tight defense rather th...

• Gyu-hyuk's Mother (played by Kim Soo-jin) — supporting

  Gyu-hyuk's mother has long felt guilty that his ankle surgery came late. Her concern is part of the background to his return to basketball after the injury, which initially leaves him and the team fac...

• Gi-beom's Father (played by Min Moo-je) — minor
• Gi-beom's Mother (played by Choi Jung-yoon) — minor

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Gi-beom's Mother → Cheon Gi-beom (mother)
• Gi-beom's Father → Cheon Gi-beom (father)
• Gyu-hyuk's Mother → Bae Gyu-hyuk (mother)
• Kang Yang-hyun → Heo Jae-yoon (Professional Coach And Player) — Kang gives Jae-yoon specific guidance to help him adjust and contribute defensively.

  Jae-yoon struggles to understand defensive assignments, and Kang encourages him to focus on tight defense instead of forcing shots or passes.

• Kang Yang-hyun → Bae Gyu-hyuk (Professional Coach And Player) — Kang's initial strategy creates friction with Gyu-hyuk, whose challenge reflects the team's struggle to find roles beyond the center-focused offense.

  Kang Yang-hyun coaches the team and initially directs the offense to get the ball to the tall center. Gyu-hyuk questions whether the rest of the team...

Story Analysis

A struggling high school basketball team rebuilds trust and finds collective strength through demanding tournament play.

Plot Progression

1. A Team on the Brink — Busan Jungang's basketball program is close to shutting down after losing coaches and talented players. Kang Yang-hyun is appointed to rebuild the squad, but players leave because they doubt its futur...
2. A Difficult New System — Kang makes winning the priority and initially builds the offense around the tall center. Gyu-hyuk challenges the limited scoring roles, while the players begin to establish trust through practice and...
3. Thin Ranks and Hard Lessons — Jae-yoon struggles with defensive assignments in the game against Jemulpo, although Busan Jungang wins. An injury further exposes the team's lack of depth, and Kang advises Jae-yoon to focus on tight...
4. An Unlikely Tournament Surge — Jae-yoon unexpectedly finds his range from three-point distance, drawing opponents' attention. The resulting openings let the team use its passing, defense, and hustle to play as a unit and defeat tou...