"Wisdom is everything": Goorjian’s seventh silences doubters

Debate has surged this week over where Brian Goorjian ranks among Australia’s greatest coaches, and broadcaster Craig Hutchison says his seventh title stands as one of the all-time coaching performances.

Goorjian first coached in the NBL back in 1988 and boasts a career spanning four decades. With his first championship in 17 years on Sunday, he's in rare air.

“You’ve got to give Brian his absolute flowers,” Hutchison said on The Sounding Board podcast.

“It is one of the great runs of Australian coaching.

“To win seven … to win the last one, a long time between drinks, at 72 ... for those that say ‘you are too old to coach’, well wisdom is everything.”

Co-host Damian Barrett joined in the praise for the Sydney Kings coach.

“It’s an extraordinary story. Seven titles over the space of 34 years,” he said.

“I love the drive this man’s got … what a driven individual he is, even at this later stage of his coaching.”

Hutchison said Goorjian led his team perfectly, particularly with talks of the “biggest choke in NBL history” among the commentary in the days leading into the game and the Kings falling behind in Game 5.

“His (Goorjian’s) energy on the floor is phenomenal,” he said.

“They were in a real spot and he coached his way out of that pocket they were in phenomenally well.”

The former Perth Wildcats and Melbourne United owner also had a special call-out for Matthew Dellavedova, who played an incredible defensive role across the Series.

“I think Dellavedova quite got the recognition he deserved out of that,” Hutchison added.

“This was his first NBL championship and he hit two amazing threes at crucial times.

“He’s a ferocious leader, Delly.”