Adam Caporn’s Vision for the Boomers: Merging Goorjian and Lemanis’ Success
March 19, 2025
Andrej Lemanis
- Nationality: AUS/LAT
- Date of Birth: 18/03/69
- Place of Birth: Melbourne (VIC)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 196
- Weight (KG): #N/A
- Junior Assoc: VIC - Bulleen
- College: None
- NBL DEBUT: 21/07/85
- AGE AT DEBUT: 16
- LAST NBL GAME: 13/07/93
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 24
- NBL History: St Kilda 1985 | Southern Melb 1991 | South East Melbourne 1992-93
- Championships: 1
- South East Melbourne (1992)
BIO: Andrej Lemanis was born in Melbourne (VIC).
NBL EXPERIENCE
Andrej Lemanis made his NBL debut with the St. Kilda Saints at 16 years of age. He scored two points in his first game.
Having made his NBL debut at 16 years of age Lemais is one of the youngest players to ever play in the NBL.
SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE MAGIC
1992 – ONE MAGIC YEAR
Following the South Melbourne Saints’ merger with the Eastside Melbourne Spectres to form the South East Melbourne Magic, only two Saints players were retained for the 1992 NBL season—Andrew Parkinson and young guard Andrej Lemanis. With Brian Goorjian appointed head coach and the team loaded with veteran backcourt talent, Lemanis entered the season firmly positioned as a development prospect.
Lemanis featured in just nine regular season games during the Magic’s debut campaign, averaging 0.8 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game. His minutes were limited due to the team’s deep rotation, which included experienced guards such as Darren Perry, Darren Lucas, Scott Ninnis, and mid-season addition Rob Rose. Still, Lemanis made the most of his time on the court, showing composure and a willingness to execute the team’s structured style.
He did not feature in any postseason games, as the Magic stormed through the playoffs with consecutive series wins over Canberra, North Melbourne, and finally the Melbourne Tigers in the Grand Final. The backcourt depth proved essential after the injury to starting point guard Darren Perry, though Lemanis remained on the fringe of the lineup throughout the championship run.
🏀 THROWBACK THURSDAY 💫
Did you believe in Magic? How could you not with this old tune! Before the days of @SEMelbPhoenix we had the South East Melbourne Magic. Do you remember how many NBL Championships Magic had to their name? Read more – https://t.co/OezFZFpFDS #HoopsAtHome pic.twitter.com/mQfmy7kiG4
— Basketball Victoria (@Basketball_Vic) April 16, 2020
1993
Coming off a championship-winning debut season, the South East Melbourne Magic entered 1993 with their eyes set on back-to-back titles. Head coach Brian Goorjian brought back nearly the entire core of the 1992 roster, with the only significant changes being the addition of David Graham (via North Melbourne) and Simon Kerle (via Brisbane) to offset the departure of Scott Ninnis (to Adelaide).
fourth year guard Andrej Lemanis was one of the developmental players on the roster, suiting up in three games throughout the season. In extremely limited court time, Lemanis recorded no points, 0.3 rebounds, and no assists, steals, or blocks, but his role was largely contained to practice sessions.
While he didn’t feature in the team’s postseason run, Lemanis was part of a squad that finished the regular season with a 20–6 record and an impressive 12–1 mark at Melbourne Park. The Magic swept the Adelaide 36ers in the quarter-finals but fell short of a second straight Grand Final appearance, eliminated in the semi-finals by the Melbourne Tigers.
Melbourne’s marquee addition Mark Bradtke was the difference-maker, posting 21 points and 9 rebounds in Game 1 (108–106), followed by a dominant 28-point, 15-rebound performance in Game 2 (89–72), ending South East Melbourne’s season and their title defence in two games.
This season would be Andrej’s last as a player before transitioning into a successful NBL coach.
Andrej Lemanis played four seasons across three NBL teams. This included the St. Kilda Saints, and South East Melbourne Magic. He averaged 1.6 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 41 NBL games.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 16 | St Kilda | 10-16 (10) | 6 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 50.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 50% | 0% | 2 |
| 1993 | 24 | South East Melbourne | 20-6 (2) | 3 | 5.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0 | |
| 1992 | 23 | South East Melbourne | 20-4 (1) | 9 | 29.0 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 33% | 1 | 3 | 33% | 2 | 4 | 50% | 44% | 0% | 3 |
| 1991 | 22 | Southern Melbourne | #N/A | 23 | 447.0 | 59 | 43 | 48 | 17 | 26 | 20 | 1 | 23 | 46 | 22 | 60 | 37% | 5 | 10 | 50% | 10 | 22 | 45% | 42% | 41% | 8 |
| 1985 | 16 | St. Kilda | 10-16 (10) | 6 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 50% | 0% | 2 | Totals | 41 | 481 | 68 | 49 | 54 | 18 | 31 | 21 | 1 | 26 | 48 | 25 | 69 | 36.2% | 6 | 14 | 42.9% | 12 | 26 | 46.2% | 42% | 41% | 8 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 16 | St Kilda | 10-16 (10) | 6 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 50% | 0% | 2 |
| 1993 | 24 | South East Melbourne | 20-6 (2) | 3 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0 |
| 1992 | 23 | South East Melbourne | 20-4 (1) | 9 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 33% | 0.1 | 0.3 | 33% | 0.2 | 0.4 | 50% | 44% | 0% | 3 |
| 1991 | 22 | Southern Melbourne | #N/A | 23 | 19.4 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 37% | 0.2 | 0.4 | 50% | 0.4 | 1.0 | 45% | 42% | 41% | 8 |
| 1985 | 16 | St. Kilda | 10-16 (10) | 6 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 50% | 0% | 2 | Total | 41 | 11.7 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 36.2% | 0.0 | 42.9% | 0.1 | 0.3 | 46.2% | 42% | 41% | 8 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 8 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
|---|
STATE LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
- Sandringham 1993
FIBA EXPERIENCE
Lemanis served the head coach of Australia national team from 2013 to 2019.
During his first year with the national team Lemanis guided Australia to the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. Australia was drawn into Group D, alongside Lithuania, Slovenia, Angola, México and South Korea. After suffering a opening round 90–80 loss to Slovenia, Australia bounced back, stringing together three consecutive wins over South Korea, Lithuania and México, the first time in 16 years that Australia had won 3 consecutive matches at the FIBA World Cup. However, in their next match Australia suffered a shock 91–83 loss to Angola, which came despite leading by 15 points in the middle of the third quarter. This result, combined with Lithuanias 67–64 win over Slovenia meant that Australia finished third in their group, qualifying for the knockout stage of the tournament. Australia met Turkey in the knockout stage of the tournament, and lost 65–64 to Turkey, ending their World Cup campaign.
Lemanis then led the Boomers to gold in the 2015 Oceania Championships, qualifying the team for Rio 2016.
In Rio, the Boomers, under Coach Lemanis went 4 and 1 in the pool games (losing only to Team USA), finishing second in their group. They played Lithuania in the quarter final, beating them 80-64 leading Australia in to the medal rounds for the first time since 2000. Australia went on to lose the semi-final game to Serbia and then fell to Spain in the bronze medal game by a single point. This equalled Australias highest ever finish at a Olympics for Mens Basketball.
In 2017, Lemanis was re appointed as National Head Coach of Australia, this time on a part time basis as he also coached the Brisbane Bullets in the Australian national Basketball league. In 2017, the Boomers, under Lemanis, played in their first ever Asia Cup tournament. The team went undefeated through the tournament, beating Iran in the final 79 - 56, taking home the gold medal for Australia.
Lemanis then led the team through the FIBA qualification system. Australia went 10 and 2 during the qualification phase, finishing first in their group and taking the number one ranking in to the 2019 FIBA World Cup draw.
In 2019, Lemanis again lead the Boomers at the World Cup in China. The team won all 3 games in the opening round and both games of the second round, meaning they qualified as the number one team from their section. Australia then went on to beat the Czech Republic 82 to 70 meaning that for the first time in their history Australia had won 6 straight games at a World Cup or Olympics tournament - a significant achievement. The team was again playing for a medal. They lost in double overtime to eventual champions Spain in the semi final and lost to France in the bronze medal game, meaning they finished fourth. Once again, equalling Australias best ever finish at a Mens World Cup.
On 27 November 2019, Brett Brown replaced Lemanis as head coach of Australia national team.
Lemanis is currently the winningest Coach in Australian Mens Basketball history, going 35 and 9 (79.5%) in his tenure as head Coach of the Boomers. In major tournaments (Olympics and World Cup), Lemanis record is 14 and 8 (64%).
When Lemanis was appointed as the Australian national Coach in 2013, Australia had a FIBA ranking of 11. When he departed in November 2019, he had taken the country to a FIBA World ranking of 3 - its highest ever.
Lemanis is also the only coach in the history of Australian basketball to have recorded a victory against the USA at senior level. The Boomers beat Team USA in a World Cup lead up game in Melbourne on August 25th, 2019. The game was played at Marvel Stadium in front of 52,000 fans. The Boomers won the game 98 - 94.
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 25% | 65% | 59% | 35% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 1 | ||||||
| Total | 25 | 69 | 36.2% | 6 | 14 | 42.9% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 24 | South East Melbourne | 20-6 (2) | 3 | 5.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0 | |
| 1992 | 23 | South East Melbourne | 20-4 (1) | 9 | 29.0 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 33% | 1 | 3 | 33% | 2 | 4 | 50% | 44% | 0% | 3 |
| 1991 | 22 | Southern Melbourne | #N/A | 23 | 447.0 | 59 | 43 | 48 | 17 | 26 | 20 | 1 | 23 | 46 | 22 | 60 | 37% | 5 | 10 | 50% | 10 | 22 | 45% | 42% | 41% | 8 |
| 1985 | 16 | St. Kilda | 10-16 (10) | 6 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 50% | 0% | 2 | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
AWARDS
As player:
- NBL champion (1992).
As head coach:
-
2× NBL Coach of the Year (2012, 2013)
-
3× NBL champion (2011–2013)
COACHING HISTORY
Lemanis began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the Townsville Crocodiles, serving in the early 2000s. In 2000, he coached the Townsville Heat to the Queensland Basketball League championship.
After becoming the head coach of the New Zealand Breakers in 2005, Lemanis coached the Breakers for eight consecutive seasons and led them to three consecutive championship titles in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He was awarded the NBL Coach of the Year award in 2012 and 2013.
On 28 February 2013, Lemanis coached his 250th NBL game. On 12 April 2013, the Breakers recorded their third NBL championship, sweeping the Perth Wildcats 2–0 in the grand final series, thus winning his third title.
On 20 October 2015, Lemanis signed with Brisbane Bullets where he would act as head coach until deciding to coach overseas at the end of the 2020–21 season.
Related
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