Kings appoint club legend Brian Goorjian as head coach

The Sydney Kings have pulled off a major signing coup by announcing club legend Brian Goorjian will return as their new head coach for the next three seasons. 

The six-time NBL championship-winning coach - who's coached more games than anyone in NBL history and holds the competition's highest winning percentage (68.87) - was unveiled as the club's new coach on Wednesday, during a special media call at Qudos Bank Arena. 

Goorjian, who has already won three titles with the purple and gold, is excited to get to work with a club that holds a special place in his heart. 

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"I'm pumped to be back in Sydney," said Goorjian, who is a six-time NBL Coach of the Year winner. 

"Honestly, I never thought I'd leave Sydney the first time after we built everything from the ground up and were winning consistently - it felt like home to me and I thought I'd finish my coaching career there, as we'd built something really special. 

"But when I left, I never looked over my shoulder as I didn't think I'd ever get a chance to coach the Kings again - it's amazing how life works like this sometimes. 

"I've had a lot of great opportunities come to me in my career, so to be able to come full circle and come back where I've made so many special memories and my photo is hanging from the rafters, is going to be incredible." 

Californian-born Goorjian is the club's most successful coach in its 35-year existence, guiding the Hoops Capital side to its first three championships from 2003 to 2005. 

During his first six-year tenure in the harbour city - which followed stops with the Eastside Spectres, South East Melbourne Magic and Victorian Titans - the now 70-year-old finished with a record of 165-61 with Sydney. 

Following this, Goorjian spent time with the South Dragons, Shenzhen Leopards, Guangdong Southern Tigers, Xinjiang Flying Tigers, Illawarra Hawks, Bay Area Dragons and Australian Boomers - which he will continue with until the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

"Having spoken to the ownership group at length recently, I have complete confidence we both have a similar philosophy when it comes to running a successful basketball organisation on and off the court," said Goorjian, who guided the Boomers to their historic bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. 

"It's crucial to have a great team around the team and Sydney has that, from the owners to the front office, fans, venue and city itself - everything is in place to be successful. 

"While this season didn't live up to the club's expectations of achieving a threepeat, I took on the job as I feel I can offer something to the club with my strengths and abilities and can assist with winning more championships for the program which has become the best in the country. 

"The Kings brand is a strong one and while it may be struggling a little right now, I feel I can be that piece that changes that, as I know what it takes to win in Sydney having won those three championships. 

"It just feels like a really good fit to be back in Sydney, and I can't wait to get to work." 

Hoops Capital co-owner and chairman Paul Smith is thrilled to have Goorjian back at the club for the next three seasons. 

"Brian has an unmatched ability to coach in the NBL, understand the dynamics of imports and extract the best out of his players but most importantly, he has knowledge of and a connection with the city of Sydney," Smith said. 

"Those particular ingredients are not easy to find in a coach. 

"Plenty of coaches know about the Xs and Os but few know about the Sydney dynamic and community like he does - so to be connected from day one of his tenure is a real positive for us. 

"Adding to that, to be able to appoint someone so early into the off-season, allow him and us to shape this roster how we'd like - giving us both time to recruit and retain who we like, not to mention find players who are aligned with our vision as a club." 

Echoing Smith's thoughts is Hoops Capital co-owner and special advisor Luc Longley, who Goorjian has had a long-standing relationship with since their time together at the Boomers - alongside fellow owner Andrew Bogut. 

"For us, there is obviously the historical connection between Brian and our club, but it goes further than that, with his deep knowledge of Australian basketball, this competition and the talent in it," Longley said. 

"I'm excited to have a leader of his magnitude in charge of our basketball department, one that resonates with players and fans alike - not to mention having his energy around the club on a daily basis. 

"He's charismatic, caring, demanding and unrelenting all at the same time and who wouldn't want someone like that at your club. 

"He's proven for decades that he can get the most out of his group of players and we're confident we can build a roster that suits his style of play. 

"His teams are always very competitive on the defensive end, and I look forward to seeing where he can take our program."