Justin Tatum has claimed NBL referees deal with him extra harshly than his teaching rivals after he was hit with a technical foul throughout a chaotic end to Illawarra’s loss to Melbourne United.
Hawks coach Tatum admitted telling a referee he made a “bleeping horrible name” when Will Hickey was known as for a contentious foul on Chris Goulding within the decisive last minute on Thursday evening.
However the 45-year-old American denied disrespecting the officers as stress boiled over on the sidelines earlier than Melbourne held on for a tense 92-87 win on the WIN Leisure Centre.
Tatum, the daddy of NBA star Jayson Tatum, was requested in his post-game press convention whether or not different NBL coaches ought to count on to cop technical fouls for related behaviour.
“100 per cent, however it’s solely going to be me,” Tatum stated.
“I am intimidating, I suppose my voice is simply too deep and I am too tall and my pores and skin color’s completely different or no matter it’s.
“It is me, you already know, as a result of I hear the identical coaches say related issues or complain about the identical stuff and their leash is just a little bit longer.
“However I suppose I’ve to be made an instance out of.”
Tatum claimed “incompetent” referees had dictated the sport within the second half as ladder leaders Illawarra (5-2) fell to their second defeat of the season.
He additionally lashed Goulding for “flopping” when the Melbourne veteran fell to the ground after minimal contact from Hickey.
“It was proper in entrance of my face,” Tatum stated.
“We’re simply comfortable that Chris Goulding did not harm himself flopping in entrance of us.
“I am glad that he is injury-free, however on the finish of the day the officers at the moment sadly simply made a foul choice, a foul name.”
Justin Tatum has not at all times had the most effective of relationships with officers. (Getty Photos: Mark Metcalfe)
Melbourne led 87-84 on the time, with 22.1 seconds left on the clock.
Bizarrely, the Hickey-Goulding play was wiped off as a result of the sport clock didn’t begin operating when the ball was in-bounded.
Tatum was handed his technical foul moments later whereas Hickey and Goulding had been concerned in a heated dialogue on the courtroom.
“Feelings had been going excessive at the moment as a result of everybody within the fitness center thought it was a name at the moment — even myself,” Tatum stated.
“As soon as they took the time to know the clock wasn’t going, feelings digressed as a result of we thought that we had an opportunity [to win].
“We had been down three, however sadly now we have one other official who decides they wish to give any individual a technical foul on feelings of the decision.
“He wasn’t disrespected as an official, however then comes again a minute or two later and offers it to us, not proper then and there.”
Tatum’s post-game feedback will entice consideration from NBL officers, who might take additional motion towards the coach.
AAP
