Andrej Lemanis


Andrej Lemanis is a Latvian Australian professional basketball coach and former player. He is the current head coach for the Brisbane Bullets of the National Basketball League. Lemanis served the head coach of Australia national team from 2013 to 2019. Previously the head coach of the New Zealand Breakers, Lemanis coached the Breakers for eight consecutive seasons, taking them to three consecutive championship titles in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He was awarded the NBL Coach of the Year award in 2012 and 2013.

Playing career

As a player Lemanis played for several Victorian clubs including the South East Melbourne Magic and the St Kilda Saints, winning an NBL championship with the Magic in 1992.

Coaching career

Prior to becoming the head coach of the New Zealand Breakers, Lemanis was an assistant coach with the Townsville Crocodiles, serving in the early 2000s. In 2000, he coached the Townsville Heat to the Queensland Basketball League championship.
On 28 February 2013, Lemanis coached his 250th NBL game. On 12 April 2013, the Breakers recorded their third NBL championship, sweeping the Perth Wildcats 2–0 in the grand final series, thus winning his third title.
Prior to his appointment as the head coach of the Australian men's national basketball team, Lemanis served as an assistant coach of the Australian men's national basketball team.
On 20 October 2015, Lemanis signed with Brisbane Bullets.

Australia national team

On 24 April 2013, he was announced as the new head coach of the Australia national team.
By virtue of winning the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship, Australia qualified for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. Australia was drawn into Group D, alongside Lithuania, Slovenia, Angola, Mexico and South Korea. After suffering an opening round 90–80 loss to Slovenia, Australia bounced back, stringing together three consecutive wins over South Korea, Lithuania and Mexico, the first time in 16 years that Australia had won 3 consecutive matches at the FIBA World Cup. However, in their next match Australia suffered a shock 91–83 loss to Angola, which came despite leading by 15 points in the middle of the third quarter. This result, combined with Lithuania's 67–64 win over Slovenia meant that Australia finished third in their group, qualifying for the knockout stage of the tournament. Australia met Turkey in the knockout stage of the tournament, and lost 65–64 to Turkey, ending their World Cup campaign.
On 27 November 2019, Brett Brown replaced Lemanis as head coach of Australia national team.