Why Brian Goorjian said 'F-You' to Owen Foxwell

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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’m not going to repeat it. I went right back in his face" as the video replay – without the need of a lip reader – showed "F-You" multiple times as the Kings rolled South East Melbourne Phoenix 113-88 in Round 20 of NBL26 on Sunday, February 8, 2026 in Melbourne.

Goorjian, 72, was given a technical foul for the heated exchange.

"Something is said to you, you say something back," Goorjian said.

"If they want to give me a technical, they can give me a technical.

"He tells me what he said. I’m coming right back at him. I didn’t think there was a place for that. I wasn’t talking to the referee. He didn’t do anything when he went at me.

"I don’t just go at a player. He said something, I went back at him.

"The last time we played them, and I showed what took place in that game, there was a lot of physical stuff. They don’t 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.

"So stay composed, don’t throw a punch, you can’t get ejected, but no backward steps.

Goorjian claimed he didn't remember what he said but he knew what was said to him.

"I don’t remember," Goorjian said.

"I’m not going to go down what I said. I know what he said to me and I’m not going to repeat it. I went right back in his face. I’ve been in it 40 years. I don’t just start calling guys names.

"He’s 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’s going to get a mouthful back.

"There are a lot of aspects to the game. There’s an emotional aspect and a mentality, staying in composure but knowing you’re not going to be intimidated.

"It’s important as the coach that they know I’m in their corner. That mentality was discussed coming in. I’m proud of our guys. I’ve got nothing but respect for them and the way they go about it.

"South East Melbourne Phoenix) are physical, they play tough, they pick up, they run, and they’re 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.

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.

"I didn’t see a kick. I can’t say if he did or didn’t," Goorjian said.

"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’t say yes or no.

"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’re popping me as I’m running. I need space to run'.

"I haven’t viewed the tape. I don’t 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."

South East Melbourne Phoenix head coach Josh King heavily criticised Goorjian for the verbal exchange.

"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."