NBL fight: The mild words that led Matt Hodgson to lose his mind

Kings legend Shane Heal has expressed his surprise that such mild words could lead to the wild scenes we saw in the NBL on Sunday.

It’s the tame sledge that prompted Perth Wildcats big man Matt Hodgson to “lose his mind” and repeatedly hit out at Sydney Kings guard Dejan Vasiljevic.

Hodgson faces a stint on the sidelines for striking Vasiljevic in the head twice during the third quarter of the Kings’ win over the Wildcats last Sunday.

Hodgson’s actions sparked a wild brawl while he was ejected from the contest and has been cited for “striking twice and engage in melee/brawl”.

Vasiljevic’s comments were described by a source as being uninspiring/common in professional sport and a line which most opposition players would laugh off as a baseless sledge.

Instead, it lit a flame inside the Perth big man.

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Kings legend and Sydney Flames WNBL coach Shane Heal spoke to Vasiljevic after the game and asked him what he said to Hodgson.

“And it was very little,” Heal said on the Basketball Show.

“I said I would have copped a lot of slaps in the face if you got one for (saying) that.

“He (Hodgson) lost his mind. The league will probably give him one or two games, but I think it is more three or four.”

NBL legend Derek Rucker also hit out at Hodgson’s actions, labelling it a “despicable act” that deserves a five-game suspension.

“I was really shocked, and I couldn’t believe that people found this somewhat acceptable,” Rucker said on the Basketball Show.

“They were watering it down like it wasn’t a despicable act.

“No hands up from DJ and he just gets it, then no remorse the first time, so I’m going to come back and get you a second time.

“This is not a good look. It was cheap from Hodgson. I’m a fan of his and the way he plays, but boy that was a really bad and a blight on his reputation.

“The league needs to come down hard.”

A brawl erupts after Matt Hodgson of the Wildcats had an altercation with Dejan Vasiljevic of the Kings during the round nine NBL match. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty Images.

Kings big men Xavier Cooks and Jarell Martin are being reviewed for “unduly rough play and engage in melee/brawl”. Cooks was also handed an unsportsmanlike foul on the court.

For their roles in the scuffle, Sydney’s Jaylen Adams and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk have been pinged for “engage in melee/brawl”.

Hodgson’s brain explosion attracted the ire of both coaches post-game.

“That’s not a basketball play, to take a swipe at someone’s face twice,” Kings coach Chase Buford said.

“I don’t have a lot of respect for that play.”

Hodgson’s coach Scott Morrison admitted the big man went too far in the heat of the moment.

“You want your guys to be competitive … but at the same time, you’ve got to keep your head and stay locked in,” Morrison said.

“Toughness isn’t just going out there and swinging your elbows and pushing people, toughness is locking into the game plan.

“Maybe we need to make sure everyone knows the definition of toughness as it relates to basketball.”