Friday, 7 December 2018:
 | | ANDREW BOGUT of the Dallas Mavericks poses for a portrait during the Dallas Mavericks Media Day held at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. | |
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Perth Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson has been fined $500 by the NBL for pushing Sydney Kings centre Andrew Bogut in a heated exchange on Thursday night.
Gleeson pushed Bogut away twice as the former NBA star tried to eavesdrop on an impromptu Wildcats huddle in the dying stages of the Kings' 77-72 win in Sydney.
Bogut grabbed Gleeson's wrist during the incident, but was cleared by the NBL of any wrongdoing.
Because it wasn't an official timeout, Bogut was allowed to stand near the Wildcats huddle.
The NBL deemed Gleeson breached the NBL code of conduct.
After the match, Gleeson cheerfully admitted trying to milk the incident.
"I tried to run a play and the big boofhead got in there and tried to listen," Gleeson explained.
'So I said 'get out for a little bit' and then he grabbed me, so I was trying to milk it and see If I could get something out of it.
"Boges is a good guy."
Bogut downplayed the incident and dismissed the suggestion Gleeson should be suspended for pushing him away.
"No he shouldn't. There was nothing in it. Let's all take a deep breath and move on," Bogut tweeted.
Even though the Kings ended the ladder-leading Wildcats' seven-match winning streak, Gleeson still took some positives out of the game.
Guard Damian Martin, playing his first game since October 27 because of a calf injury, showed his trademark determination.
With star import Bryce Cotton's injured thumb not improving enough for him to play, and Mitch Norton having limited time after getting injured on Boomers duty earlier in the week, Martin played over half the game.
He helped limit prolific Sydney guard Jerome Randle to a season-low eight points and was instrumental in the Wildcats' second-half fightback.
"You've got to love Damo, don't you," Gleeson said.
"When it's all said and done, he's going to have a statue in probably every stadium in Perth.
"He's going to go down as one of the best players ever from the NBL."'
Perth won the rebound count 44-29, Clint Steindl scored 16 off the bench and Boomers forward Nic Kay was prominent down the stretch, finishing with 17 points on seven from 11 field goal shooting.
Gleeson hasn't yet ruled out Cotton returning for Sunday's home clash with Cairns either.
'It's just being comfortable with the ball in his hand and obviously it's his shooting hand, so I don't want him getting out there where he's a bit timid with that," Gleeson added.
