The barrage of abuse after the Paris Olympics that prompted Brian Goorjian to quit social media

Brian Goorjian has been in the spotlight as the Kings endure a difficult start – and the barrage of abuse he’s copped online has led to the veteran coach quitting social media altogether.

Brian Goorjian has consistently copped criticism via social media in NBL25.

‘Goorj has lost it. He is too old. It’s time to retire. What is with his rotations?’

The cat calls have come thick and fast since Goorjian has returned to the hot seat coaching one of the NBL’s biggest brands in the Sydney Kings.

Fortunately, more for his self-esteem and mental health, the veteran mentor hasn’t seen or heard a single spray.

A barrage of abuse he received after the Boomers bombed out at the Paris Olympics in the quarter-final stage prompted the NBL’s greatest coach to quit social media.

Attacks with no accountability from nameless and faceless cowards had such a negative impact that he no longer wants anything to do with the online platforms.

Boomers coach Brian Goorjian has faced a barrage of criticism online. Picture: Getty

So, if you’ve hit out at Goorjian via X or Facebook following Sydney’s inconsistent start to the season, he doesn’t have a clue about what has been said.

“After the Olympics I put a line through social media,” Goorjian, 71, told Code Sports.

“So when I walked into this at the Kings, I don’t give a shit what people are saying.

“I learnt valuable lessons from the Games and now it’s just head down and bum up. So what the people from interstate say, what social media says, it doesn’t matter.

“I’ve also told the players, because they go through it as well. Look at what happened at Tasmania this season (with players’ families copping online abuse).”

Goorjian says brushing social media has helped him block out the pressure of coaching the high-profile Kings.

The men in purple and gold were hailed pre-season favourites despite many at the club feeling like the team had to “start from scratch” after the drama of aggrieved players and a sacked coach in Mahmoud Abdelfattah last season.

Former Sydney Kings head coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah was sacked after a dismal season last year. Picture: Getty

Goorjian is far from happy with where Sydney currently sits on the ladder, and knows they need to be a lot better, but he always planned for the Kings’ return to the top to take time.

It’s why he thought the pre-season ladder predications were an unfair reflection on where Sydney really sat following a season of upheaval that ended in a first weekend exit from the playoffs.

“With the (pre-season) pick, I thought that was a set up,” he said.

“You come back into the league and right there you put a bullet to my head.

“No.1 and best team, c’mon man. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but as a staff we certainly didn’t feel that way.

“We knew coming into this that we’re in a real battle. “There was clearly an issue last season. We let the guys go that didn’t want to be here and my job is to come in and start the rebuild and build a culture of defence, hardworking and set stronger standards and hold guys accountable.

“And when you talk about Cam Oliver, Jaylen (Adams) and the group – that is what has been going on.”

Brian Goorjian has faced a challenging return to the Sydney Kings so far in NBL25. Photo: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Despite Sydney’s inconsistent start to NBL25, Goorjian is locked in on helping the Kings rebuild around young stars like NBA draft bound Alex Toohey.

He has complete faith in Toohey and fellow emerging talent like Tyler Robertson and Keli Leaupepe, as shown when he backed them to ignite the Kings’ comeback against Melbourne United last round.

“Our starting players struggled in the first half against Melbourne and it was the younger, second unit guys that really brought us back into the game,” he said.

“As a staff we feel comfortable about putting them into games.

“I keep taking about the long game, but I’ve got a three year deal to put something in place and build.

“I come out of practice and think I like what we have here and I like the future of this thing and we’re going to get it right.

“We’ve got brand new staff and brand new ownership. “We haven’t played to our capabilities yet and we’ve got a whole lot more to give.

“There is a higher ceiling than where we are playing at and we can play better.”

Originally published as The barrage of abuse after the Paris Olympics that prompted Brian Goorjian to quit social media