King lashes NBL coaching king for 'F-You' rant

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Going in South East Melbourne Phoenix's Josh King was the presumptive favourite for NBL26 Coach of the Year and Adelaide 36ers five-time MVP Bryce Cotton rolling towards his sixth award.

But Sydney Kings head coach Brian Goorjian and star point guard Kendric Davis haven't just entered the chat they've taken over the conversation.

Goorjian propelled the Kings to 14th win in their past 16 from the sideline and Davis, who poured in 30 points to go with 11 assists, four boards and two steals, dominated the Phoenix 114-88 on the road in Round 20 of NBL26 on Sunday, February 8, 2026 in Melbourne.

Sydney held the Phoenix to just 11 points in the fourth quarter, are the best team in the league heading into the last few rounds of the season.

"We knew what was at stake," Davis said.

"We're finally healthy and we made a statement today. Great coaching, Goorj for the Coach of the Year and we've got great teammates, one through 14, I love my teammates and I love my coaches.

"We need every (victory), we've got great leadership Delly, X ... I can't keep talking about my teammates (enough) and coaches, they keep us prepared.

"I love my teammates, I love Delly, I love X, I love Goorj, I'd run through a wall for them."

Davis said the Kings had come through adversity in NBL26 to now sit second on the ladder with a real shot to finish top.

"We weathered the storm, at one stage we we're playing with seven players ... seven. I know everyone is going through injuries and as you can see it's hard to win with that and we did it.

"We've been through adversity so we are comfortable with that."

The clash threatened for boil over when Davis and Owen Foxwell got tangled up that led to Goorjian getting into with Foxwell and Phoenix head coach Josh King was far from impressed.

"What I do know is what I saw back in the locker room, and it is very disappointing," King said.

"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 “F-you” 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 “F-you” three times is very disappointing, and it is not right.

"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.

"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."

Goorjian was asked about the exchanged and said Foxwell had talked as well.

"Maybe he did and maybe he did not," King added.

"I do not know. I know what I saw. I heard “F-you” picked up three times. If there is another microphone and it picked something else up, I apologise.

"I did not see what Foxy said. If he did say something, then okay, he should not be talking to the coach. But for a guy with that much experience to tell an opposing player “F-you” three times is uncalled for.

"Again, this is somebody I look up to. I love coaching. I hope I am doing what he is doing at 72 at a high level, but that is uncalled for."

Key Details

• Result: Sydney Kings 113 def. South East Melbourne Phoenix 88
• When: Saturday, 8th February 2026
• Where: John Cain Arena, Melbourne
• Attendance: 10,175
• Standings

By the Numbers

• Kendric Davis (Sydney Kings) starred with 30 points, four rebounds and nine assists in 34 minutes.
• John Brown III (South East Melbourne Phoenix) scored 15 points, five rebounds and one assist in 31 minutes.

What Happened

The Kings established early control and never looked back, building substantial leads throughout each period. Sydney outscored Phoenix 33-29 in the opening quarter before extending their advantage with a 22-25 second period. The third quarter proved decisive as the Kings exploded for 30 points whilst limiting Phoenix to just 23, effectively putting the contest beyond doubt. A lacklustre fourth quarter saw Phoenix manage only 11 points as Sydney coasted to the 25-point victory.

Davis was simply outstanding from the opening tip, shooting an efficient 11-from-18 from the field including 6-from-7 from the charity stripe. His court vision was equally impressive, facilitating nine assists while committing just one turnover. Xavier Cooks delivered a perfect shooting display, going 8-from-8 from the field for 20 points, showcasing exceptional efficiency in the paint. Jaylin Galloway provided excellent support with 14 points on 4-from-6 shooting, including two triples from outside the arc.

For Phoenix, Brown III battled valiantly with 15 points on 6-from-10 shooting, but received limited support from his teammates. Nathan Sobey matched Brown's 15-point output but struggled with his shot selection, connecting on just 5-from-15 attempts including a poor 2-from-9 from deep. Jordan Hunter contributed 11 points in 18 minutes off the bench, providing one of the few bright spots for the home side.

The Kings' superior shooting ability proved the defining factor in this comprehensive victory. Sydney shot an outstanding 59% from the field compared to Phoenix's disappointing 38%, whilst also holding a significant advantage from the free-throw line at 81% versus 93%. The visitors' ball movement was exemplary, recording 24 assists to Phoenix's 18, demonstrating their superior offensive execution throughout.

Phoenix struggled to control the ball effectively, committing 14 turnovers compared to Sydney's 10. The Kings capitalised on these extra possessions, converting them into easy scoring opportunities. Despite Phoenix slightly edging the rebounding battle 43-40, they couldn't overcome their poor shooting performance and ball security issues. Sydney's defensive pressure forced Phoenix into difficult shots all evening, limiting their offensive rhythm and flow.