Earlier this week it was announced that Illawarra Hawks, head coach Brian Goorjian would not take up his third-year option with the club, leaving his coaching future uncertain.
Although his future movements were linked to a potential NBA by News Corp’s Matt Logue, it’s now known that Goorjian Goorjian’s next challenge will be to build a team from the ground up after signing a two-year deal to be foundation coach of the Bay Area Dragons in the new East Asia Super League.
Introducing your Bay Area Dragons Head Coach — Brian Goorjian 🐉
Who’s hyped to see this man lead the squad? #BayAreaDragons #AwakenTheBeasts #EASL pic.twitter.com/DQ8q3n5Uno
— East Asia Super League (@EASLofficial) May 12, 2022
The Dragons are a brand new basketball team that currently has no contracted players. Goorjian will be tasked with building a roster in preparation for their first slate of games which will be as guests in the 2022 PBA Governors’ Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association.
After the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Goorjian, who also steered Australia to a bronze medal finish in the Tokyo Olympics will then lead the team into the first season of the newly formed East Asia Super League. The EASL was conceptualised as a solution to the lack of high-level international tournaments in the Asia region, which includes a population of approximately 2 billion people and is positioned to become Asia’s premier basketball league and is financially backed by NBA stars such as Metta Sandiford-Artest, Baron Davis and Shane Battier.
“It’s the direction of basketball in this region,” Goorjian said of the EASL, which will feature the winners and runners-up from the Japanese, South Korean and Philippines leagues as well as the champions from the Taiwanese league and the Dragons in a home-and-away format.
Joining the new league “was absolutely a no brainer,” Goorjian told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from Melbourne, Australia. “It was a ‘Wow, this could be so special’.”
The EASL plans to be the equivalent of the Euroleague in the Asian regions and has already received FIBA recognition to do so.
Australian Boomers Head Coach, Brian Goorjian will join the new East Asia Super League, signing on with the Bay Area Dragons on a two year contract.
A fantastic appointment, congratulations Goorj! 👏#WeAreBasketball pic.twitter.com/XdQDZ9ko6G
— Basketball Australia (@BasketballAus) May 12, 2022
The EASL is now working directly with the top professional leagues in all core markets – Greater China, Japan, Korea and the Philippines have already and are finalizing agreements with the respective domestic leagues for multi-year partnerships.
Goorjian stood down as coach of the Hawks last week stating he felt the team was in good hands with his longtime assistant Jacob Jackomas taking on the Hawks head coaching role.
“I definitely will be coaching next year and I’m excited about the opportunity ahead and what I’ll be doing and where I’ll be coaching but also everybody understands.” – Brian Goorjian in his farewell Press Conference.
The 68-year-old, who recently brought up his 800th NBL game, will remain as the Hawks’ special advisor for basketball operations until he leaves for Manila where the Dragons are currently based. Travel-related obstacles during the COVID-19 pandemic meant it was too difficult for the Dragons to play out of Hong Kong in Season 1.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my last two seasons with the Hawks, where we’ve performed extremely well and reached the top four on both occasions,” said Goorjian
“I’m extremely proud of everything we achieved on the court and look forward to helping the club in any way I can moving forward. This move also allows my long-time assistant coach Jacob, who I have complete faith in, his chance to prove himself in the NBL.”
The first EASL season will run from October 2022 to March 2023 and include eight teams from four leagues in its inaugural season. These will be the champions and runner ups of the Japan B.League and the Korean Basketball League as well as the champions of Taiwan’s P. League+, Goorjian’s Bay Area Dragon’s and a franchise team not part of any domestic league will also participate. The league considers the P. League+ champions and the Phoenixes as representatives of “Greater China”.
For the Philippines, the allocation of teams is yet to be determined. Currently, discussions include involving the top four PBA teams, forming a selection team, or entering the national team.
The season will culminate with a Final Four showdown to determine the regional champion. Beyond 2023 there are also plans to expand the league, potentially giving the leading clubs from the Chinese Basketball Association access to the international competition.
“The Bay Area Dragons, we’re going to be that team that leads the way, gives those young Chinese players an opportunity. The competition will see that.” Goorjian noted.
The 68-year-old will be busy, continuing to coach the Boomers in international competitions and working on recruitment for the Dragons.