Bevo's tribute to record-breaking 'GOAT' Goorjian

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A fellow legendary NBL coach has paid tribute to the iconic Sydney Kings mentor Brian Goorjian after he recently passes a record held by six-time NRL premiership winner Wayne Bennett.

Goorjian, who has been a head coach since 1988, recorded his 587th win after beating the Adelaide 36ers at Qudos Bank Arena and has taken his tally to 589 following victories over the Illawarra Hawks and Cairns Taipans since.

Also a six-time NBL championship winner, the 72-year-old looks more on his game than ever with the Kings right in the thick of the title mix once again.

One of his former coaching opponents and his assistant for the 2004 Boomers Olympic team, Rob Beveridge, said his passion and love for the game was "contagious".

"When you hear the name Brian Goorjian, the things that I think of is; how great it was to have coached against Goorj in my early days in the NBL, and being blessed to have been one of his assistant coaches at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and 2006 World Championship in Japan," Beveridge told basketball.com.au.

"For this I will forever be grateful to have worked with the GOAT.

"There are several things that separates Goorj from the rest, but what comes to mind is his ability to get the best out of his players. His energy and work ethic is off the charts and it becomes infectious and influences all of his players and staff.

"I haven’t worked with a coach that motivates a team so well. He has always been a student of the game and continued to learn and surround himself with some of the best coaches in the world and never rest on his laurels.

"His energy, his passion and love for the game was contagious."

Beveridge, who has coached the Illawarra Hawks, Perth Wildcats and West Sydney Razorbacks in the NBL, also couldn't help but have a dig at his good mate.

"Working with Goorj was like working with an 'absent minded professor'," he said.

"Off the court he was bloody hopeless where he constantly lost anything from car keys, room keys, computers, wallets and on occasions a shoe.

"But once you pointed him in the right direction and got him on the court, that was his world. The lights would come on and it was Goorj’s world.

"I have known Goorj for well over 25 years and despite all of his successes that he has had, he still will have the time to share his time and wisdom.

"Wishing Goorj all the very best always on becoming the most winningest coach in Australian sporting history."