The Phantom
A few hours ago
Tatum's ref comments to be assessed by NBL?
Tatum had an interesting comment to Vaughn towards the end of the game. Bit disappointed really.
Will there be any sanctions before series?
Illawarra are dealing with an unwanted distraction ahead of the NBL championship series as league officials dissect footage of a heated exchange between coach Justin Tatum and a leading referee.
Tatum clashed with veteran whistleblower Vaughan Mayberry during the final minute of the Hawks' huge playoff win over South East Melbourne Phoenix on Wednesday night.
Sparks flew when Illawarra's Dan Grida was ejected after he committed a heavy foul on Phoenix import Joe Wieskamp and stood over his floored opponent to taunt him.
Phoenix guard Owen Foxwell remonstrated with Grida and players from both sides became involved.
The series of events was assessed on replay and Grida was handed both an unsportsmanlike foul and a technical foul.
Justin Tatum is being assessed over an exchange with a referee. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
But Foxwell escaped without punishment after referees had initially considered giving him a technical foul.
"You said he was getting a tech," Tatum yelled at referee James Griguol in a portion of the exchange caught on the NBL broadcast.
Mayberry responded with a comment inaudible on the broadcast and Tatum fired back: "Nobody's talking to you, Vaughan. You don't like my kind."
Tatum, the father of NBA star Jayson Tatum, continued his verbal tirade on the sideline and was then handed his own technical foul.
NBL officials are yet to confirm whether there will be any further sanctions.
Tatum was in a better mood when he attended his post-match press conference, delighting in a 126-96 win that booked Illawarra's spot in the best-of-five championship series against Melbourne United.
Tatum laughed when asked about the standing ovation rowdy Hawks fans gave Grida as he walked out of the arena after being ejected.
"I'm always proud for DG, not to get ejected though," Tatum said.
"DG's a crowd favourite, his effort today was unbelievable ... his energy level is great and I'm glad the crowd respects that."
The latest controversy is not the first time Tatum has attracted NBL attention over incidents involving referees.
He was fined $3000 for breaching Basketball Australia's code of conduct and made to apologise after lashing whistleblowers as "incompetent" following a narrow home loss to Melbourne in October.
During the same post-match press conference, second-year Hawks boss Tatum also suggested he is treated differently to other NBL coaches.
"I'm intimidating, I guess my voice is too deep and I'm too tall and my skin colour's different or whatever it is," Tatum said at the time.
Tatum's latest clash with referees was the only sour note for Illawarra on a record-breaking night against South East Melbourne Phoenix.
