Brian Goorjian addressed his heated exchange with Owen Foxwell after Sydney\u2019s Round 20 win.<\/p>\n
Six-time NBL championship and six-time Coach of the Year Brian Goorjian has revealed he knows “what (Owen Foxwell) said to me and I\u2019m not going to repeat it. I went right back in his face” as the video replay \u2013 without the need of a lip reader \u2013 showed “F-You” multiple times as the Kings rolled South East Melbourne Phoenix 113-88<\/a> in Round 20 of NBL26 on Sunday, February 8, 2026 in Melbourne.<\/p>\n Goorjian, 72, was given a technical foul for the heated exchange.<\/p>\n “Something is said to you, you say something back,” Goorjian said.<\/p>\n “If they want to give me a technical, they can give me a technical.<\/p>\n “He tells me what he said. I\u2019m coming right back at him. I didn\u2019t think there was a place for that. I wasn\u2019t talking to the referee. He didn\u2019t do anything when he went at me.<\/p>\n “I don\u2019t just go at a player. He said something, I went back at him.<\/p>\n “The last time we played them, and I showed what took place in that game, there was a lot of physical stuff. They don\u2019t take a backward step. If they pop you, you pop them back. I thought last time we played them we took a bit of a backward step on the physicality side.<\/p>\n “So stay composed, don\u2019t throw a punch, you can\u2019t get ejected, but no backward steps.<\/p>\n Not sure why such a respected coach would need to step on the court and call a 22yr old player a “bitch” during the game….I’ll take the high road and just say he’s old enough and experienced enough to act better in that situation. https:\/\/t.co\/H71viRRfDL<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Romie Chaudhari (@RRome44) February 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Goorjian claimed he didn’t remember what he said but he knew what was said to him.<\/p>\n “I don\u2019t remember,” Goorjian said. <\/p>\n “I\u2019m not going to go down what I said. I know what he said to me and I\u2019m not going to repeat it. I went right back in his face. I\u2019ve been in it 40 years. I don\u2019t just start calling guys names.<\/p>\n “He\u2019s over by the bench telling me what to do in my space. I spoke to my team beforehand. My job is to protect my team. If he wants to go there, he\u2019s going to get a mouthful back.<\/p>\n “There are a lot of aspects to the game. There\u2019s an emotional aspect and a mentality, staying in composure but knowing you\u2019re not going to be intimidated.<\/p>\n “It\u2019s important as the coach that they know I\u2019m in their corner. That mentality was discussed coming in. I\u2019m proud of our guys. I\u2019ve got nothing but respect for them and the way they go about it.<\/p>\n “South East Melbourne Phoenix) are physical, they play tough, they pick up, they run, and they\u2019re having a great season. They beat us both times. That side we talked about was there tonight. I thought they handled themselves and we handled ourselves during that scuffle.<\/p>\n This is without doubt the greatest moment of the NBL season. Exemplifies why his players will run through a wall for him. Intangibles like this are what makes Goorjian is GOAT. Legend of our sport #NBL26<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/6ZTSBmnrWE<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Karl Beston (@karlbeston) February 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Goorjian said he didn’t see the play where Kendric Davis and Foxwell got in a tangle and needed a video review to sort some afters out.<\/p>\n “I didn\u2019t see a kick. I can\u2019t say if he did or didn\u2019t,” Goorjian said.<\/p>\n “We were frustrated too when we were going to the basket and our guys were getting taken out. Is that a basketball play? Are you playing the ball? I can\u2019t say yes or no.<\/p>\n “Every time we went to the hole, they laid us down. There are teams that get in your path and pop you. KD said, ‘They\u2019re popping me as I\u2019m running. I need space to run’.<\/p>\n “I haven\u2019t viewed the tape. I don\u2019t know about a kick. There was a lot of stuff going on and a lot of physicality. I like the way our guys protected themselves.”<\/p>\n Josh King says Brian Goorjian\u2019s actions during an incident with Owen Foxwell were \u201cuncalled for\u201d.<\/p>\n The veteran coach was handed a tech in the second quarter of a fiery clash. pic.twitter.com\/SvO1JR5KGn<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NBL (@NBL) February 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n South East Melbourne Phoenix head coach Josh King heavily criticised Goorjian for the verbal exchange.<\/p>\n “What I do know is what I saw back in the locker room, and it is very disappointing,” King said.<\/p>\n “A guy that everybody looks up to in this league, and I am not trying to make headlines, but Coach Goorjian telling one of our players \u201cF-you\u201d three times in a row is uncalled for. It is really surprising. A guy that has done everything he has done in his career to think it is okay to tell an opposing player \u201cF-you\u201d three times is very disappointing, and it is not right.<\/p>\n “It is what it is. Maybe he thinks that is okay. I just know I have never seen that before, and I have coached around the world.<\/p>\n “I have never seen an opposing coach do that. As much as I do not like wearing the microphone during the game, I am glad they picked that up, because that is completely uncalled for.”<\/p>\n Brian Goorjian is a coach like no other we\u2019ve ever had here. <\/p>\n Every game counts to this man and you\u2019ll struggle to find a man who will talk poorly about him. pic.twitter.com\/jNnog8ohCX<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 AussieHoopla (@aussiehoopla) February 8, 2026<\/a>
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