Australian Basketball: Boomers coach Brian Goorjian wants Australian team in new East Asia Super League

Brian Goorjian says he would not have taken his new Hong Kong coaching gig, were it not for the Boomers, and he wants to pave the way for an Aussie team in Asia’s answer to the Euro League.

Brian Goorjian says being part of the Boomers’ culture has helped his motivation. Picture: Getty Images

Legendary coach Brian Goorjian believes his move to the fledgling East Asia Super League will help Australian basketball.

But he said it would not have happened had he not been spurred by the culture of the Boomers’ program.

The Australian team, under Goorjian, won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics — or “rose gold” as he likes to call it — and just finished a clean sweep of three FIBA World Cup qualifiers in Melbourne.

Goorjian will lead the Bay Area Dragons in the inaugural EASL season, which has been set up as the region’s answer to the prestigious Euro League.

Brian Goorjian says being part of the Boomers’ culture has helped his motivation. Picture: Getty Images

Featuring clubs out of China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, Goorjian believes an Australian team is a logical step.

“If I couldn’t have continued with the Boomers, I wouldn’t have made the move,” Goorjian said.

“I hope that my move is going to help Australian basketball.

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“I think, in the big picture, Australia’s going to be part of this and I’ll feel really good if I can be one of the founders in that because I think that’s the vision for this region.

“Look at (the game against China Sunday), the atmosphere, as a player and coach, it’s electric.

“Why can’t we have a league like that where China comes here and plays, Japan comes here and plays, Korea, Chinese Taipei. They love their basketball and we love our basketball, so this is the future.”

Goorj and his rose gold Boomers. Picture: Adam Head

The 68-year-old returned to coach the Boomers last year, after over a decade absence and said he was “emotional” to become a part of the culture he walked into.

“It’s a unique experience,” he said.

“Being away from it for 12 years and to be a part of something building when Joe (Ingles) and those guys are 18 years old,” he said.

“Then have the rose gold where you come back and they’re 32-33 year old men and just see where they’ve taken this thing. The culture is what gets this team by.

Joe Ingles and Patty Mills as kids at the 2008 Olympics.

Grown men, Ingles and Mills, led the Aussies to bronze in Tokyo. Picture: Adam Head

“It’s the effort areas, it’s the hustle, it’s the defence, it’s the rebounding, it’s never taking a backward step and it’s now ingrained in this.

“I walked into that and I was emotional about it.

“Winning always helps culture but the day-to-day here has been brilliant.

“Being around the hotel, having the meals, being in the bus, the practice sessions, absolutely zero issues, no edge, just team.

“To be a part of something like that, I certainly don’t take for granted.”

The Boomers, over the weekend, swept through Group B in their Asian qualifiers and moved through to the second round with a pair of wins over China and one over Japan. Next up for the Boomers is the Asia Cup, which begins on July 12.

Originally published as Australian Basketball: Boomers coach Brian Goorjian wants Australian team in new East Asia Super League