Buford bent on reining in outbursts
THE NBL has placed Sydney Kings coach Chase Buford on notice following a series of unsavoury incidents, prompting the Kings mentor to visit a psychologist over the off-season in a bid to manage his “fuse”.
Buford’s first NBL season ended with a championship, but he also attracted the league’s condemnation after breaching the code of conduct on two occasions.
The first came after Sydney’s final round clash against Illawarra when he sensationally used a texta to write “F!#$%@ suck” on the referees’ locker room door at Qudos Bank Arena after contentious referee decisions in a loss.
Buford then publicly called out referee
Chris Reid in his postgame press conference, saying: “The
Kings will be fine in the first week of the finals against the Hawks as long as Reid isn’t refereeing.”
This suggestion, combined with his decision to write expletives on the referees’ door, prompted the NBL to slap him with a $10,000 fine and a single match suspension that will be suspended until the completion of the 2022/2023 season.
Buford was also fined $375 for kicking an advertising board in their Game 2 finals win over Tasmania.
It is understood the Kings coach will have his one-game ban activated if he breaches the league’s code of conduct again this season.
Buford is fully aware of his battle with emotions because it’s a problem that dates back to days as a youth player.
“If I couldn’t recognise that I had some issues to work on in that realm then I’d be a pretty in denial person,” he said.
“I’ve spent some good time this summer seeing a psychologist about it (my temper) to try and talk through it and understand myself in those moments and the reasons why I’m acting out like such a child.
“It has been good, but I still have a lot of work to do.”
Buford’s side faces a challenging season-opener on Friday against a rejuvenated Brisbane Bullets side.