I'd be ok with this. Not exactly inspired, but it's not like we've got a 1984 NBA Draft's worth of great candidates to pick from either.

I'd be ok with this. Not exactly inspired, but it's not like we've got a 1984 NBA Draft's worth of great candidates to pick from either

Who would you prefer over Goorj?

Story here:

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/brian-goorjian-is-set-to-become-boomers-coach-again-and-take-them-to-the-tokyo-olympics/news-story/8fb2177871854675d69b674be184d029

He wasn't very successful the first time he coached Australia.

We didn't have the talent then that we have now

As expected and the right decision to steer us through Tokyo 2021 however I hope someone else with an eye to the future is appointed after that. Goorj had his time coaching the Boomers and he wasn't very successful despite all the Kings players he shoe-horned into the team.

Bevo with no distractions about coaching a NBL side would have been a better choice I feel , Lemanis flaw was he had to juggle both and also the promise of a boomers selection if they joined the bullets wasn't helpful can see goorjian having similar issues

Let's not forget a Goorjian-led Boomers consisting of NBL players (plus Andersen and Bogut) led Team USA for three quarters in Athens 2004.

Goorjian is superb.

The 2004 Boomers were probably the poorest squad we've had since 1988.

I look forward to Luke Kendall being starting point guard in Tokyo.

There's a fundamental flaw in bureaucratic thinking, the idea that you don't get in trouble for making "the right choice". That is the choice that seemed obvious and safe at the time.
Goorjian is the obvious, safe, predictable, boring choice.

Goorjian failed previously because he was unable to make the transition from being the biggest fish in the pond, to being a nobody. From playing by his rules, to adapting to the very Eurocentric interpretations that was FIBA ball at that time.
I would assume that he had to change his whole approach when he went to China, and certainly in the interviews I have heard and read, he seems much more mellow and far less arrogant.

I'm confident he will do a competent job in Tokyo.
(Problem is that as we have seen recently, Australia doesn't need competent. We need inspired brilliance.)

"Gleeson is despised by the NBA Boomers players.
Comical his name comes up"

I think the last thing NBA players want is some arrogant asshole berating referees and getting techs all the time. If he pulled the stuff he does in the NBl at the Olympics he'd not last a game.

This is disappointing. He destroyed the bombers, sank a few nbl clubs in his time.

Moved to China, destroyed their program.

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.

Lisa Alexander didn't throw her hat in the ring?

Bevo would've been my first choice, but Goorj has always been a great coach and recently broadened his experience even more, so I'm not unhappy with this.

All options were decent choices, like someone said Goorjian was likely already chosen before the interviews, my order of choice would have been.

Bev - no affiliation to an NBL club so less likely for bias and knows the countries players well
Gleeson - has shown time and again he can win
Goorjian - Prob has no real knowledge of current Australian talent bar the NBA players
Vickerman - good coach, but the others just seem that bit higher

"Goorjian - Prob has no real knowledge of current Australian talent bar the NBA players"

The Boomers are going to be majority NBA players at the Olympics -

Ben Simmons
Patty Mills
Joe Ingles
Jonah Bolden
Aron Baynes
Dante Exum
Matthew Dellavedova
Ryan Broekhoff
Josh Green
Mattise Thybulle (if that goes ahead)
Thon Maker


That's 11 NBA players, all who could very reasonably expect to make the team. Then you have Bryce Cotton, Jock Landale, Brock Motum, Chris Goulding, Andrew Bogut etc all vying for spots and all guys Goorjian either knows, or will know by the end of the season.

I don't think Goorjians lack of affiliation with Kevin White and Brendan Teys is much of an issue.

We still don't know which NBA players will opt to play in the Olympics though, we've never always had the full contingency available and I expect the same in Tokyo. At least he'll get the majority of the NBL season to see who's in line for a spot if needed.

Here's BA's press release:

Basketball Australia (BA) is delighted to announce that Australian coaching icon Brian Goorjian will lead the Boomers at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics after appointing him coach of the senior men's national team through to the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The six-time NBL Championship coach was selected from an outstanding field of candidates and will take the reins of the Boomers as they commence their nine-month preparation for the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled to be contested 23 July - 8 August 2021.

Goorjian is no stranger to the expectation of an Olympic Games, having been head coach of the Boomers in 2004 (Athens) and 2008 (Beijing). Post Beijing, Brian broadened his international experience spending two years with the Japanese National team and then made his mark in the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) over eleven years, making him the longest serving foreign coach to date.

Between 1988 and 2009, Goorjian coached 735 NBL games for 514 wins, at an incredible winning percentage of 70%. Over that time, he amassed six championships, six Lindsay Gaze NBL Coach of the Year awards, 19 consecutive NBL play-off appearances and 13 NBL Grand Final series appearances.

Upon making the announcement, Basketball Australia CEO Jerril Rechter AM said, "Brian’s success as a coach both domestically and internationally, plus his experience on the Olympic stage made him a standout candidate for this prestigious role.

“His appointment as our senior men’s national team head coach elevates the excitement we feel for the Boomers, not just in Tokyo where we have podium expectations but also beyond this Olympic campaign."

Highly regarded for his relentless determination in getting the absolute best from the teams he manages, Goorjian leads and fast tracks the improvement of individual athletes. The current Hawks head coach in the NBL has previously introduced Andrew Bogut, Patty Mills, and Joe Ingles to the Olympic stage.

Goorjian is renown as an elite high-performance system leader whose capacity to adapt quickly will be needed as the road to Tokyo is still impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On being appointed to the role, Brian Goorjian said, “I am honoured to be appointed as the men’s national coach and I am looking forward to the challenge. Being reunited with some of the guys I previously coached at the Beijing Olympics is an exciting prospect.

“Australia is very fortunate to have such a talented group of athletes at this time. There is certainly a feeling of unfinished business, so there is a strong commitment from these players to participating in the Tokyo Olympics.

“I will be sitting down with Basketball Australia over the coming days to get fully briefed on their existing plans as we start the road to Tokyo and beyond.”

Goorjian’s appointment as Boomers head coach will not impact on his role with Hawks in the NBL.

Hawks Co-Owner and President Dorry Kordahi said, “The entire Hawks organisation is thrilled for Brian and this opportunity. Brian’s approach to the game and his insight are second to none.

“He inspires players through his knowledge and passion, and I have every confidence Brian will lead the Boomers to success on the world stage. As a friend and colleague, I could not be more proud of this appointment."

BA would like to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of the independent panel members involved in this recruitment process: Matti Clements – Australian Institute of Sport Director of Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement; Neil Craig – Elite High Performance Consultant; and Ricky Grace – Sydney 2000 Olympian and BA Hall of Famer.

LOL Cadee and Drmic WILL NOT be making the team. Do you think he's going to be coaching the next NBL season with his eyes closed or something? You think he wont have assistant coaches? Stop being ridiculous.

I want to see the Spurs-style that we saw from the Boomers in Rio and the World Cup.

Lots of passing, lots of movement, lots of chasing the ball, lots of fighting for the rebounds.

I don't want to see slow-down grit it out eastern-Euro-style basketball and I don't think the Boomers will succeed by doing that.

In other news, Will Magnay will not be coming to Adelaide with the Bullets due to NBA interest, apparently. Magnay is a guy who isn't spoken of much in Olympic team projections but if Bogut falls out of the race he becomes an interesting prospect there. And a guy going straight from the NBL to the NBA is a great story for the league.

Magnay is legit and should 100% be in the discussion for a Boomers spot, even if it's the 12th man.

Either way I dont think Goorjian is going to have a problem figuring out who should and shouldn't make the team and what their strengths and weaknesses are. The guy is a professional. He'll be watching tape, going up against them, bringing the top names into camp, working them out, working through a process. He'll be fine.

Goorj is a good choice. i would probably have liked to see Bevo get his long awaited shot, but can't argue too much with Goorj.

Knowledge of aussies is an easy thing for him to brush up on anyway.
It's knowledge of the Euros that is going to be pivotal to our success IMO.

What I meant was scouting our opponents, not just keeping up with how our aussies are going over there.

He coached them in 2008, and has since been coaching at the highest levels in ultimate high pressure environments. Think about what you were doing with yourself and , hopefully how much better you are at things 12 years later. There's a a reason he is still in the game, he’s clearly someone who improves and evolves. There are a tonne of coaches from his original era who aren’t coaching anymore, probably becuase they didn’t evolve and adapt.

To say he wouldn’t have a finger on the pulse internationally shows how much some people know about how professional coaching works. These guys are constantly improving and evolving.
'Spurs’ type offence’ which era? Go watch Pop’s Robinson and Duncan teams compared to different era’s. They evolved into what you see now.
Eastern Europe style of play is where today’s flow systems evolved from.

So wait, are we back to having NBA players available? (Yes, I haven't been paying any attention to the NBA, as usual.)

If we were looking at an NBL based team, I would have picked Gleeson.
Not saying Goorj has a huge advantage with NBA players, but his international experience would be superior.

Yes it is likely NBA players are available because the NBA is going to start on December 22 and run for 72 games, missing the late July Olympics.

"Whoever makes finals in nba ain't playing for boomers"

Where are you even getting that from? You really think Patty, Joe, Baynes, Delly or any of our main guys are gonna let go of their Olympic dreams because theyre a bit tired?

"Aussie NBA star Ben Simmons is yet to play for the Boomers at a World Cup or Olympics, but new coach Brian Goorjian would like to change that."

Article from Matt Logue at https://www.news.com.au/sport/olympics/newly-appointed-boomers-coach-brian-goorjian-wants-ben-simmons-at-the-olympics/news-story/98bc445ececb02b6f8906e920da89e94

Gives some quotes from Goorjian, about his relationships with current and potential Boomers. Most interesting snippet is to the effect that several NBA based players pushed to get Goorjian as coach.

"If Simmons even gets to 2nd round of the playoffs then perhaps he won't participate.

"

If Simmons has so much as an itchy eye, he wont participate.

We should really be operating under the assumption we won't have Simmons playing for the Boomers anytime soon.

"Whoever makes finals in nba ain't playing for boomers"

Where are you even getting that from?

"If the Finals are going to run until the day before the Olympics, then it just won't be physically possible."

But where are you getting THAT from? Bare in mind it's a 72 game season.

The thread about the NBA schedule, in which the Finals dates were posted.

Ah just saw that. Fuck. Can we ever get some decent news?

Just doing some projecting here. From what I understand, most Aussies wont be in the playoff picture, bar maybe Ingles or Baynes depending where he lands.

If one or two guys join the Boomers program late - with say two weeks to go - they can be easily accommodated. If more than that join on late, it becomes much harder and you'd only seek to assimilate the best fits in that situation.

You can probably cross Ben Simmons out, because even in the unlikely scenario he misses the playoffs, there will be some sort of Jenner he wants to spend his summer chasing.

But for most patriotic Australian players, a late entry into the Boomers team would still be feasible, and I'd expect a Baynes or an Ingles to make that move if given the option, provided they're not in the finals series.

Team USA is going to be hurt by this, for sure. Whoever is in the Finals series will likely be a Lebron or someone of that sort of calibre. But I think most international teams should squeak through this okay provided their players truly care about playing in the OLympics - and luckily for us, ours do.

In other news what's going on with Bolden, Broekhoff and Landale? Where are they playing at the moment?

That's assuming they make the grand final series, and Ben was probably always going to place getting offended over playing for the Boomers anyway

Lol no it doesn't. If we safely assume two weeks quarantine before the games, the Finals definitely rules them out, but Playoffs do not. What, you think games played up to two months before the Olympics stop them from playing?

If you read what the article says, they're worried mostly about the Grand Final series and possible conference finals depending on quarantine length. I am sure the teams making the first and second rounds will survive.

Do we really want to be bringing in guys who haven't been in the camps and haven't trained with the group?

"Do we really want to be bringing in guys who haven't been in the camps and haven't trained with the group?"

Depends who