Brian Goorjian Claims Record Seventh NBL Coach of the Year Award with Sydney Kings

Brian Goorjian has etched his name deeper into NBL history, claiming his record seventh Coach of the Year award after an outstanding 2025-2026 season with the Sydney Kings. The basketball legend was presented with the prestigious Lindsay Gaze Trophy at Crown Ballroom on Monday night, following his team’s exceptional regular season performance.

The six-time NBL champion guided the Kings to an astonishing league-best 24-9 record, securing the regular season championship. This latest accolade adds to Goorjian’s impressive collection, having previously won the award in 1992, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008, and 2009 across his illustrious career with various NBL franchises.

The legend himself!

Brian Goorjian is the #NBL26 Coach of the Year.

Watch the #TheGazeys on Disney+ pic.twitter.com/r0fTibv9O4

— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) February 23, 2026

A coaching philosophy built on relationships

Goorjian, who holds the all-time games coached record at 866 matches with an impressive 68.5% win ratio, emphasized the collaborative nature of his success during his acceptance speech. « I always think the coach of the year is the ultimate team award because coaching is about selection of people and relationships, » Goorjian said.

The veteran coach expressed gratitude toward the Sydney Kings organization, particularly thanking owners Paul Smith and Robyn Denholm. « The relationships and the team that we have, we can’t do it without great players. As far as (this) group of guys go, I haven’t had a better group. You can’t win without great players and good people, » he stated.

Reflecting on his coaching evolution, Goorjian shared insights about his approach to team building and player development. « I’ve been involved in a lot of teams and the older you get, I feel like you work out what you’re good at. I feel I’m pretty good at selection of people and it’s taken a little while, it always is when you start in a new organisation and a new team. »

The accomplished coach, who also guided the Australian Boomers to their historic Olympic Games bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, emphasized the lasting impact of coaching beyond basketball achievements. « I’ve coached guys now that are in their 60s-50s, and to see through this sport, what kind of men they have become, what kind of fathers they are, and what they are doing with their lives, you can say you were a part of that and that’s much more important than the basketball. »