Sydney Kings coach Brian Goorjian faces possible sanction from the NBL over an expletive-laden spray directed at South East Melbourne guard Owen Foxwell.
Goorjian was caught on broadcast cameras calling Foxwell a "bitch" and saying "f*** you" three times in a heated exchange on Sunday.
It came during the second quarter of the Kings' 114-88 statement win over the Phoenix at John Cain Arena.
Goorjian insisted Foxwell provoked his response with an initial comment, which was not picked up on the broadcast, but refused to discuss the specifics of what was said.
The 72-year-old - a six-time NBL championship-winning coach - was unapologetic over his role in the incident, which earned him a technical foul.
"If something's said to you, I'm going to say something back," Goorjian told reporters post-game.
"If they want to give me a technical (foul), 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, and I don't just go at a player.
"I went there and he said something and I went back at him."
The NBL game review panel will look over available footage of all incidents referred by the league's replay centre.
Goorjian's spray will almost certainly be on the radar during Monday's review of round 20.
SEM coach Josh King said Goorjian's actions were "completely uncalled for".
"It's really surprising, a guy that's done everything he's done in his career to think it's OK to tell an opposing player 'F you' three times," King told reporters post-game.
"That's very disappointing and it's not right.
"Hey, it is what it is. Maybe he thinks that's OK.
"I just know that I've never seen that before, and I've coached around the world too."
Sunday's result lifted Sydney (21-9) above the Phoenix (21-10) into second spot on the ladder, with just two rounds left in the regular season.
