'It boiled over': King Cooks opens up on Phoenix rivalry

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Sydney Kings captain Xavier Cooks says his team only has one true rivalry despite the season series against South East Melbourne Phoenix reaching new heights this past round.

Many have predicted the Kings and Phoenix to be a potential Grand Final match-up, given their form and heated meetings so far this season, including a 124-118 epic which went to South East Melbourne at Qudos Bank Arena on January 5 followed by 114-88 revenge game from Sydney last week - which was headlined by several physical altercations and a confrontation between Brian Goorjian and Owen Foxwell.

The clash, where Goorjian could be heard telling Foxwell "f**k you" three times, led to the legendary coach being fined by the NBL.

Appearing on the latest edition of Cut to the Jase with former King himself, Jason Cadee, Cooks said their clashes with the Phoenix were a "great series".

"I mean, I wouldn't say (it's a) rivalry, I think it's just a great series," he said.

"In terms of rivalry, I think our only rivalry is Illawarra. They keep trying to say the other ones in Perth and Melbourne, and for me, it's just Illawarra. Maybe it's because I'm an Illawarra boy.

"I think (the heated series with SEM) it doesn't help we have so many of our past players on that team in Angus Glover, Ian Clark, now Jordy Hunter, they're running similar sets that we were running back then.

"It's good, it all adds up, it all adds up."

Cooks said fiery clashes like their most recent meeting with the Phoenix just happen when there's so much at stake.

"I mean, as a basketball player, I think these kind of things just happen, especially in games like this that are so hyped up and so competitive and everyone knows what's at stake," he said.

"Even our like conflicting game styles, the pressure... they're bumping and grinding, both teams are real similar in that way and it just comes down to it boiled over. But I mean, I like it, I love it. That's the best part about sports is the emotion you can feel from it.

"Sometimes it's for the best, some it's for the worst but I think it's a part of the game.

"You definitely can't hide from it in this day and age with the social media and things like that but you're right, the double header game like the win loss thing was a huge thing for us knowing that we go win on from now on, we should be the top spot from now on.

"I think that, but like even the last game we played them, there's a little bit of pushy and shove, and then even the KD/Sobey debate for MVP battle, and they're both such competitive firecrackers out there. It's just some really entertaining basketball."

With Goorjian's confrontation with Foxwell clearly a tactic to show Kendric Davis his coach has his back at all times, Cooks spoke about the impact that can have on you as a player.

"Especially on the road, I think it really makes you come together," he said.

"It makes you feel like it's you against the world and you know that the leader has your back and is willing to, you know, sacrifice the tech and do those things."

The Kings take on local rivals the Illawarra Hawks at the WIN Entertainment Centre tonight and then meet the Perth Wildcats at home on Sunday.