Lim began playing basketball in elementary school but was a guard as he was one of the shortest members in the team.[2] He went on to Hongik University High School.[3] By then he had a growth spurt and converted into a forward, his current position.[2]
Career
College
Lim played college basketball for Chung-Ang University and was contemporaries with future national teammate Lee Dae-sung.[4][5] Although Chung-Ang was largely overshadowed by the duopoly of Yonsei University and Korea University in collegiate competitions, he quickly gained the attention of KBL and national team scouts during his senior year, especially after scoring 36 points and 12 rebounds against powerhouses Yonsei.[6]
Professional
Lim was the second overall pick of the 2012 KBL rookie draft. He was drafted by Seoul Samsung Thunders and was widely expected to be the successor to veteran teammate Lee Kyu-sup in the forward position due to their tall height and shooting skills.[7] While he was mostly the sixth man, he played in nearly all league games during his rookie season.
In January 2014, Lim injured his left foot in a league game against Jeonju KCC Egis and missed the rest of the 2014–15 season. Without a similar player to fill his void and injuries plaguing other key players, the Thunders finished the season with its lowest win rate on record (11 wins and 43 losses).[8] Due to his background playing in the guard position, he played as a shooting guard during the 2015–16 season.[2]
Lim made the squads for both the 2017 William Jones Cup and the Asia Cup.[11][12][13] His shooting prowess came to the fore in the loss to hosts Lebanon as he was responsible for half the team's successful three-pointers in the game.[14]
