‘F**k! We’re playing for our lives’: Boomers cop spray as coaches unleash at FIBA World Cup

Basketball fans are being treated to some classic blow-ups at the FIBA World Cup, including an expletive-laden spray from the Aussie coach.

Coach Brian Goorjian tore his Boomers a new one.

Basketball fans have been treated to some of the all-time great coaching sprays as the stakes get higher at the FIBA World Cup.

While the USA are still the raging favourites to lift the trophy for the first time since 2014, the depth of talent across world basketball means the competition to make the knockout stages and challenge for a medal is tougher than ever.

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Australia’s Boomers have progressed to the second stage of the World Cup after finishing second in Group E behind Germany with wins over Finland and Japan.

The Aussies have made their road to a medal more difficult by going down 85-82 to Germany in a heartbreaking loss in their second game.

Boomers coach Brian Goorjian is generally a mild mannered man, but he unleashed at his team after they got off to a very slow start against Germany, quickly falling in a 16-5 hole.

During a time-out, Goorjian appeared to take aim at Josh Giddey for some defensive lapses as he put a rocket under his squad with an old school expletive laden spray.

“I don’t know what’s going on, man,” Goorjian said.

“F**k! We’re playing for our lives. Two dead bodies. Swallow the f**king ball.

“Boys, we’ve got to pick this up, it’s embarrassing.”

Boomers coach Brian Goorjian tore his team a new one. Photo: Fox Sports.

Goorjian was far calmer during the Boomers’ dominant 20-point victory over Japan.

“The assistants were saying to me, ‘These guys are locked in. They know what’s at stake’,” he said.

“I didn’t have to anything like I did during that timeout. No emotion from me.”

While the NBL and NBA broadcasts show edited rev-ups from coaches, the unfiltered access to time-outs at the FIBA World Cup has been something to behold.

Hell hath no fury like a fired up Goorj. (Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images)

Greece’s coach Dimitrios Itoudis let rip at his team during their 109-81 loss to the USA in the group stage.

With Giannis Antetokounmpo skipping the World Cup, it was always going to be a tough ask for Greece to beat the USA.

In a seriously animated spray, Itoudis yelled at his squad: “Listen to me! What the f*** are we talking about? You have the ball. Clear out the f***ing ball man.”

The Head Coach of Greece was NOT happy with his teams effort 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/4auZs4dumx

— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) August 28, 2023

Greece are in a battle with New Zealand to finish second in Group C and qualify for the second preliminary stage.

The Boomers will have to beat Slovenia, led by NBA superstar Luka Doncic, as well as Georgia, to make the quarterfinals. A loss will end their tournament.

But the Boomers will be confident given they beat Slovenia to win a droughtbreaking bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Australia take on Slovenia on Friday.

Originally published as ‘F**k! We’re playing for our lives’: Boomers cop spray as coaches unleash at FIBA World Cup