6
Mar
Code Sports
Tatum, NBL referee caught in heated exchange
Justin Tatum, head coach of the Hawks reacts during game two of the NBL Semi Final Series between South East Melbourne Phoenix and Illawarra Hawks at John Cain Arena, on March 02, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
The NBL Integrity Unit is looking into the exchange from the final minutes of Illawarra's win.
The NBL’s Integrity Unit is looking into a tense exchange between Illawarra coach Justin Tatum and one of the game’s leading referees, according to Matt Logue and Michaell Randall from CODE Sports Basketball.
Tatum and Mayberry came together during the fourth quarter of the Hawks’ blowout win over the Phoenix on Wednesday night.
In what should have been a banal final minute, tensions flared as Hawks reserve Dan Grida was ejected after he chased down and hammered Phoenix forward Joe Wieskamp as he attempted a lay-up. Grida then stood over the American, taunting him.
Young Phoenix guard Owen Foxwell took exception and rushed in to remonstrate with Grida.
The replay centre assessed Grida with an unsportsmanlike foul for the act and a technical foul for taunting but Foxwell was not given a technical foul, leaving Tatum incensed.
“James, you said he was getting a tech,” Tatum shouted at referee James Griguol from the sideline.
Mayberry then replied and Tatum shouted: “Nobody’s talking to you Vaughan, you don’t like my kind”, which could be heard on the NBL’s broadcast.
The Hawks coach continued to rant at the referees and was then slapped with a technical foul of his own.
Watch the exchange and read the full story here.
