Josh King Calls Out Brian Goorjian Over Foul-Mouthed On-Court Tirade

A heated exchange between Sydney Kings coach Brian Goorjian and South East Melbourne Phoenix guard Owen Foxwell overshadowed the Kings’ 113-88 victory on Sunday, sparking a post-game war of words between the two head coaches. The incident, which occurred during the second quarter, resulted in a technical foul for Goorjian and accusations of unprofessional conduct from Phoenix coach Josh King.

The confrontation stemmed from a physical contest between Kings MVP candidate Kendric Davis and Foxwell, which escalated into a broader on-court tension involving Phoenix’s Nathan Sobey. As Foxwell engaged in a discussion with referee Vaughan Mayberry regarding a call, Goorjian became visibly frustrated and directed a profanity-laced outburst at the young guard. Broadcast microphones captured Goorjian saying, “I’m not talking to you b****, I’m not talking to you, f*** you, f*** you, f*** you.”

Following the game, Josh King didn’t mince words, labeling Goorjian’s behavior as “uncalled for” and “disappointing.” “A guy that everybody looks up to in this league, and I’m not trying to make headlines, but coach Goorjian telling one of our players ‘F you’ three times in a row is just uncalled for,” King stated. “It’s surprising, given everything he’s done in his career. That’s very disappointing, and it’s not right.”

King, who has coached internationally, expressed disbelief at the incident. “I’ve coached around the world and I’ve never seen that,” he said. “As much as I don’t like wearing a microphone during games, I’m glad it picked that up, because that’s uncalled for. Completely uncalled for.” He further emphasized the impact on Foxwell, a rising Australian talent. “Foxy’s a kid and this guy’s won more games than anybody in Australia… I always think we should be the adults.”

Goorjian, however, defended his actions, claiming his outburst was a response to comments made by Foxwell. “If something’s said to you, I’m going to say something back,” he explained. “If they want to give me a technical, they can give me a technical, but he tells me what he said, I’m coming right back at him.” Goorjian refused to detail the specifics of the exchange, stating, “I’m not going to go down what I said, but I know what he said to me and I’m not going to repeat it, and I went right back in his face. I’ve been in it 40 years, I don’t just start calling guys names.”

He asserted his role as a protector of his team. “I don’t just go at a player. I went there and he said something and I went right back at him. My job is to protect my team… if he wants to go there he’s going to get a mouthful back.”

King conceded that Foxwell may have initiated the exchange, but maintained that he hadn’t heard the initial comment through the broadcast microphones. “Unless there’s another microphone somewhere else, and if there is, I apologise. I didn’t see what Foxy said and if he said something, OK, he shouldn’t be talking to the coach,” he acknowledged. However, he reiterated his disappointment with Goorjian’s response. “But for a guy (Goorjian) with that much experience to tell an opposing player ‘f you’ three times… somebody I look up to. I love coaching, I hope I’m doing what he’s doing at 72 at a high level, but that’s uncalled for.”

The incident adds another layer of intensity to the rivalry between the Kings and the Phoenix, two teams widely considered to be the top contenders in the NBL. The Kings currently hold a strong position in the league, led by the stellar play of Kendric Davis, who despite being involved in the initial on-court scuffle, contributed significantly to the team’s victory. The Phoenix, despite the loss and the post-game controversy, remain a formidable opponent, with young stars like Owen Foxwell continuing to develop and contribute to the team’s success.

The NBL has not yet announced any further disciplinary action regarding the incident. The league will likely review the footage and statements from both coaches before determining if any sanctions are necessary. The focus now shifts back to on-court performance as both teams prepare for their upcoming matchups, with the lingering tension from this encounter undoubtedly adding fuel to future contests.