Roth implores rival coach to receive deserved roses

Brian Goorjian has revealed how dark it was after the Sydney Kings lost the unlosable to the Tasmania JackJumpers. Scott Roth saw that too and that's why he was so forthcoming in his unabashed admiration for what Goorjian has done since with his team.

When the JackJumpers snatched a win for the ages from the Kings in their previous visit to Qudos Bank Arena back on October 26, it was every bit as about how incredible the Tasmania effort was as about how Sydney threw it away.

Goorjian was distraught afterwards as were a lot of his players, especially Xavier Cooks, but he has done an incredible job since as coach with the Kings having won 14 of 18 games since including beating the JackJumpers 105-94 back at Qudos Bank Arena on Thursday night.

How distraught Roth saw Goorjian after that game stuck with him, and seeing what he's done with the Kings since only hit home what a remarkable coach he is even after six NBL championships and more than 850 games just in this league.

"About three months ago we won a game that we probably shouldn’t have won, but we fought hard enough to get the perfect storm across the line and I walked right out here in the room next door, and I saw Brian Goorjian with his hands in his head on the couch slumped over, and quite distraught," Roth said.

"For about two months all I heard about was what a bad coach he is, the game's passed him by, he's too old, the roster's not good and you need another American.

"It went on and on and on about this guy who's basically done everything he possibly could for this country. His name's up in the rafters and he's a master at his craft, and to go against him is a privilege.

"To watch him do his job at 72 years old, I can't be one fourth of what he is. He loves this game and to see him in that mode that I saw him in three months ago really shook me about what we do, and then to see him get raked through the coals.

"But these last six weeks has been a masterclass in coaching and if you can't appreciate what he's done for Australian basketball and for this franchise, and what he's put in this last six weeks, he's Coach of the Year by far, it's not close by me."

The similarities the men share are obvious with both being Americans who now call Australia home and have won NBL championships, and both even crossed paths coaching in China, and the mutual respect is off the charts.

While Roth was aware of Goorjian before he started coaching against him in the NBL, he didn’t know him on a personal level and was quick to point out that anyone that dare question his abilities should quickly be put back in their place.

"When you have a decimated roster and you're still winning games and people are still bitching and moaning because it's just not good enough, that's a craft, that's a GOAT," Roth said.

"He's at that level and he should be respected at that level and I get quite upset when I hear things about this guy who has had a stellar career and gone through everything that he's gone through.

"To see him in that room three months ago because he lost a perfect storm game that when you do it long enough you'll run into those games, that really shook me to think I hope to god I'm not coaching still when I'm 72 years old.

"He's a master of his craft and what he's done with this team should be appreciated by everybody in Australia, not just the Kings, but basketball in general and these keyboard warriors who think they're smarter than everyone else, I hope they actually perk up a little bit and understand what the craft is, and what the job is.

"I'm a shitty coach and I know I'm a shitty coach, and I couldn’t do half of what he's doing. You can beat me up about how I coach all you like, but this guy he's too good, and he's Coach of the Year bottom line."

When informed of what Roth had to say about him, Goorjian offered the same level of respect right back.

"I feel the same way and when we got pantsed by them which we have three times, the respect of what he's done down there and we go back a long way," Goorjian said.

"We've kinda interchanged with each other through China, at Shanghai with Yao Ming he was in and I came in, then he was at the national team and he came in, then I left, and he came back in, so we've had a long period of time.

"It's not a kiss and cuddle thing, it's just an absolute respect and you know even tonight, all that they went through with the injuries and missing those bodies and being 20 down, I'm walking the sidelines thinking they're coming and they're not letting this thing go.

"He's just built that thing down there so it's nothing but respect and my wife even said when we had all the injuries tonight coming in, just enjoy it because you're playing a class act and she's been around me the whole time and has watched from afar.

"It's nothing but respect and respect for them, and what they are down there."