Goorjian to bring up historic 800-game milestone against Kings

He is already considered the greatest coach the NBL has ever seen, with six championships to his name.

Now Brian Goorjian will add to that exceptional legacy when he becomes the first individual ever to be involved in 800 NBL games.

To date, the 68-year-old has 775 games coached and 24 as a player, to his name.

Fittingly, the Illawarra Hawks coach will bring up this historical milestone against arch-rivals and his former team, the Sydney Kings.

"It's a huge honour to bring up, one that I'm extremely grateful for - being able to do something I'm passionate about for so long," Goorjian said.

"The milestone has come through an unusual set of circumstances, having spent 12 years coaching in China, in the midst of my long stint in Australia.

"Since returning to this new situation, it feels like a completely different league to when I left it and that I'm trying to reestablish myself, which I love.

"Longevity in any industry is based on success, which I've been able to achieve because of the extraordinary people I surround myself with - every group I've worked with have been willing to sacrifice and continue working towards a common goal."

The Californian-born Goorjian started his association with Australian hoops in 1977 as a player with the Melbourne Tigers, who were coached at the time by the legendary Lindsay Gaze.

This was the first of nine seasons with the Tigers, including being their inaugural NBL captain in 1984 - a campaign where he accumulated all 24 of his appearances in the league.

Following his retirement, Goorjian moved into coaching, securing his first gig with the Eastside Spectres in 1988 - an appointment he held for four seasons and 107 games.

Then in 1992, his Spectres merged with the Southern Melbourne Saints, to form the South East Melbourne Magic - where he would go on to man the sidelines for 225 matches across seven seasons - including championships in 1992 and 1996.

Following a grand final loss to the 36ers in 1998, Goorjian had another change of team by merger when the Magic merged with cross-town rivals the North Melbourne Giants to form the Victoria Titans - a side he would go on to coach 139 games across four campaigns.

Ahead of the 2001-02 season, Goorjian replaced Brett Brown as the Sydney Kings coach - a position he would hold for the next six seasons.

During those 226 games, Goorjian led the purple and gold to five grand finals and three straight championships from 2003-2005.

His last stop in Australia, before plying his trade in China for 12 years, was with the South Dragons, where he secured his incredible sixth NBL title.

"It's been an incredible journey and each championship stands out in its own way," the six-time NBL Coach of the Year said.

"Playing in front of 15,000 fans in 1992 was extraordinary, as both the Tigers and us used the Glasshouse as our homecourt that season - not to mention being presented our rings by then NBA commissioner David Stern, which is something I'll never forget.

"Then going up to the Kings, who were called the voiolet crumbles at the time, and taking them from finishing last and administration to a three-peat was special - not to mention giving those fans at the Kingdome the success they were screaming for.

"Finally, taking the Dragons from last to first within one season had never been done before in the history of the league."

As well as the silverware, Goorjian admits watching people he's worked closely with go on to great things in their own lives was extremely satisfying.

"Helping Chris Anstey (who was at the Magic at the time) become the first player drafted from the NBL to the NBA (with the Mavericks) was an emotional moment," Goorjian said.

"Then seeing the likes of CJ Bruton (now 36ers coach), Sam Mackinnon (Bullets GM), Mike Kelly (former Taipans coach, now assistant coach with Wildcats), Matt Nielsen (assistant coach at San Antonio Spurs), Jamahl Mosley (Orlando Magic head coach) and Arne Duncan (former United States secretary of education with Barack Obama) all go on and do amazing things with their careers, after working alongside them, is extremely gratifying.

"Even, to a different level, Patty Mills and Joe Ingles, who I met as teanagers and are now Olympic bronze medalists.

"It's been a wonderful ride so far and I can't wait to see what the future has in store."

The next stop of his journey takes him back to Sydney on Saturday, for the first of four Freeway Series clashes against the Kings.

"This is the best rivalry we have in our sport right now and I feel it's gone to a new level recently," Goorjian said.

"It'll always be a special place to play for me and the occasion will be even sweeter when we get that win."