Illawarra Hawks coach Justin Tatum says he’s treated differently after late game tech-foul

Justin Tatum launched a post-game outburst after his Illawarra Hawks lost a close match on Thursday night claiming he’s treated differently to other coaches.

Furious Illawarra Hawks coach Justin Tatum claimed he’s being treated differently by NBL referees because “I’m too tall and my skin colour’s different” after a late-game technical foul cost his team in a last-gasp loss to Melbourne United on Thursday night.

The second-year NBL coach, who is the father of NBA superstar Jayson Tatum, told the referee he made a “bleeping terrible call” when Will Hickey was called for a contentious foul on United’s Chris Goulding in a chaotic final minute of the 92-87 defeat.

The NBL is set to investigate Tatum’s behaviour but suggested he was singled out because of his presence on the sidelines.

“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,” he said at his post-match press conference, .

“It’s me, you know, because I hear the same coaches say similar things or complain about the same stuff and their leash is a little bit longer.

“But I guess I have to be made an example out of.”

IF YOU MISSED THAT CRAZY FINISH, HERE IT IS! 🔥🔥🔥

Did Goulding flop? Should Tatum have been T'd up? And how in the world did Illawarra keep making those threes??

Relive the final minutes of this wild #NBL ending between Melbourne and Illawarra! pic.twitter.com/xr6CGgnjM0

— ESPN Australia & NZ (@ESPNAusNZ) October 24, 2024

Tatum lashed the “incompetent” referees for their influence on the game and continued opposition attacks on Goulding for “flopping” when the Melbourne veteran fell to the floor after minimal contact from Han opponent in the dying stages.

“The fans pay money and want to come and see the players, not some incompetent referees that let their feelings at that time dictate the game,” he said.

It was that irate reaction which led to Tatum’s outburst.

“It was right in front of my face,” Tatum said.

“I don’t know if it was a first-time or rookie referee that wants to make a call like that but we’re just happy that Chris Goulding didn’t hurt himself flopping in front of us.

“I’m glad that he’s injury-free, but at the end of the day the officials at that time unfortunately just made a bad decision, a bad call.”

“Emotions were going high at that time because everyone in the gym thought it was a call at that time - even myself,” Tatum said.

“Once they took the time to know the clock wasn’t going, emotions digressed because we thought that we had a chance (to win).

“We were down three, but unfortunately we have another official who decides they want to give somebody a technical foul on emotions of the call.

“He wasn’t disrespected as an official, but then comes back a minute or two later and gives it to us, not right then and there.”

Goulding also copped it from South East Melbourne Phoenix owner, Romie Chaudhari , after the teams clashed last weekend.

“Goulding constantly flops and cries about it, that sh*t is weak,” Chaudhari wrote on Twitter Sunday — after his team recorded its first win of the season over United.

Originally published as Illawarra Hawks coach Justin Tatum says he’s treated differently after late game tech-foul