Kings’ fearless newcomer has Goorjian buzzing

Brian Goorjian has seen just about everything in a lifetime in basketball. But he may never have seen a player reach cult hero status as quickly as Will Johnston has with his hometown Sydney Kings.

The Kings had their eye on Johnston through his final two college seasons, first at Loyola Marymount University and then the University of Richmond. So his immediate impact comes as no great surprise.

What has blown Goorjian away is everything else: Johnston’s insatiable appetite for the game, the way he has won over the local fans, and the difference he is making to how the Kings play.

Johnston had 17 points and shot 3/4 from three-point range in Saturday night’s bounce-back win over the Perth Wildcats. Just as crucially, he gave the Kings another ball handler and playmaker alongside Kendric Davis.

“Tonight there was a real mindset of pace and using the bench, and I thought obviously Will Johnston and a lot of the stuff we want to do getting the ball out of KD’s hands and running some stuff, it’s important he’s on the floor so we can do that,” Goorjian said.

“He brought us help in spades and then I thought Jayden Stone was a real plus for us tonight on the glass, he gave us an energy defensively up the floor and that’s a nice piece if we get that rolling into this.

“I liked our resilience and there was a real good vibe about us tonight.”

Goorjian always expected Johnston to make his mark this season. What he didn’t know was how infectious his personality would be, or how deep his love for the game runs.

Goorjian struggles to keep up with everything Johnston is doing. But he isn’t surprised by the results, believing the basketball gods sometimes reward that kind of unbridled passion.

“We knew that he was going to be a good player, but it’s happened quicker (than expected) and I think a big aspect is the work ethic,” Goorjian said.

“I’m not one of those on there, but every time you click onto Instagram he’s somewhere with his ponytail shooting baskets somewhere on a dirt court somewhere in the middle of the night, and I’m like ‘aren’t you tired?’.

“Then whatever happens, he’s fearless and he comes into the game and when I look down the bench to sub, I bump into him because he just never sits down and doesn’t give me any room.

“He brings a lot of energy in the locker room, on the court, on the day to day, and he’s been a jewel.”