JUST one week after the team’s play-in elimination, the Sydney Kings have assigned a new head coach, with all-time great Brian Goorjian set to lead the organisation once again.

After just one season at the helm, Mahmoud Abdelfattah parted ways with the team after failing to defend its second consecutive title. Among rumours that he had lost the players, the former NBA G-League coach of the year could not lead his side past the New Zealand Breakers.

However, the Kings will now be reuniting with one of their most successful leaders, with Goorjian returning to the NBL to once again lead Sydney.

Also coaching the Australian Boomers at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics, Goorjian will once again lead the team from the Harbour City, having led the team to a three-peat from 2003-2005. He has a plethora of records next to his name, including the most games coached in NBL history at 803 and the most titles in league history at six.

His last stint at NBL level was when he was in charge of the Illawarra Hawks, whom he led to back to back top-four finishes, before handing the reigns over to Jacob Jackomas.

The coaching addition undoubtedly launches Sydney back into the championship race next season, with some big roster moves on the horizon.

The decorated coach spoke of his excitement surrounding returning to the team where he found plenty of success in the past.

“Honestly, I never thought I’d leave Sydney the first time after we built everything from the ground up and were winning consistently – it felt like home to me and I thought I’d finish my coaching career there, as we’d built something really special,” Goorjian said.

“But when I left, I never looked over my shoulder as I didn’t think I’d ever get a chance to coach the Kings again – it’s amazing how life works like this sometimes. 

“I’ve had a lot of great opportunities come to me in my career, so to be able to come full circle and come back where I’ve made so many special memories and my photo is hanging from the rafters, is going to be incredible.” 

“Having spoken to the ownership group at length recently, I have complete confidence we both have a similar philosophy when it comes to running a successful basketball organisation on and off the court.

“It just feels like a really good fit to be back in Sydney, and I can’t wait to get to work.”