Boomers coach Brian Goorjian has revealed he almost hurled a glass of red wine at a Sacramento Kings fan who was mercilessly abusing Oklahoma City Thunder’s Josh Giddey at an NBA game late last year. Given the legendary national coach’s fondness for quality vino, that’s saying something. Goorjian knew trouble was afoot when he went to take his seat at the Golden 1 Center and found a card warning supporters about abusive behaviour.
At the time, Giddey was the subject of a police and NBA investigation after claims emerged on since-deleted social media posts that he had an inappropriate relationship with a minor two years ago. “I’d never seen anything like it,” Goorjian said of the abuse. “I’m behind the scorers’ bench and a player was inbounding the ball to Josh at half court and the whole stadium stands up and boos.
“I’ve had guys like Chris Anstey go over there as young men and really struggle in the NBA environment, but here’s a kid, 20 years old, and the whole stadium is going nuts. Security guards were grabbing guys – it was intense. Josh Giddey playing for the Boomers against Venezuela in Melbourne last year.
Credit: Getty “What the guy was saying behind me was out of line ...
I turned around and was going to throw my red wine in his face. It was getting really, really uncomfortable.” Goorjian saw Giddey after the match and was told: “You should see what it’s like in Chicago.
You should see New York.” Giddey was 19 at the time of the al.