An awkward post-game exchange between two strong personalities stole the spotlight in Game One of the NBL’s Championship series, continuing a recent history of tension and bad blood between the Sydney Kings and Adelaide 36ers.
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During the handshake line after Saturday night’s 112-68 win to Sydney, 36ers import Nick Rakocevic appeared to bypass Andrew Bogut, prompting a brief interaction that quickly became the dominant talking point.
It did not seem accidental.
Rakocevic, one of the league’s most emotional competitors, has built a reputation on wearing his heart on his sleeve, much like former 36er Montrezl Harrell. This moment felt deliberate, a show of support for his teammates, but it also followed an earlier flashpoint late in the fourth quarter.
After picking up his fifth foul, Rakocevic was gestured off the court by Bogut, who had a few words for the 36ers import. While that incident alone could explain Rakocevic’s actions, the history — both personal and through his close ties — suggests the clash may also have been fueled by long-running tensions.
VASILJEVIC’S DEPARTURE FROM THE KINGS
Those tensions may trace back to ongoing off-court friction involving Rakocevic’s close friend Dejan Vasiljevic and the Sydney Kings.
It has been nearly three years since Vasiljevic left the Kings, where he won two championships, to pursue opportunities overseas. He joined the Washington Wizards for Summer League, which led to an Exhibit 10 deal and a chance to earn an NBA roster spot.
That opportunity fell short. Waived before pre-season, Vasiljevic returned to the NBL, but a clause in his Kings contract allowed the club to block a move to a rival for that season. With Sydney already carrying a full roster, his return created tension behind the scenes.
He eventually signed with Adelaide, but not before a public fallout with his former club.
“They made me look like a villain,” Vasiljevic said at the time. “They made Adelaide look like the villain. Honestly, I’m going to walk away from it and be the bigger man.”
The 26-year-old insisted there was more to the situation, rejecting claims he had turned his back on Sydney.
“I took my time and wanted to make the right decision and Adelaide just came on board.”
Nearly a year later, Bogut addressed the situation on his ‘Rogue Bogues’ podcast, offering the Kings’ perspective.
“Vasiljevic just, I’m not sure what the deal is, but I don’t get why there’s all these stones thrown,” Bogut said. “He’s making comments on social media posts about ongoings that no one knows the half of what happened in Sydney.
“This is a guy that’s won two championships with us. We tried to support him all through it.”
Bogut explained the club had backed Vasiljevic’s NBA ambitions.
“He was contracted for this past season with the Sydney Kings. He came to us at the end of our second championship and said, ‘Hey, I’ve got an opportunity to go to the NBA on an Exhibit 10 deal with the Washington Wizards’.
“We had some back and forth and said, look, we’re not one of those teams that tries to prevent guys from going to the NBA or following their dream. We’re always very supportive.”
When Vasiljevic returned, the Kings made their position clear.
“We let DJ’s representatives know, look, we’re not going to bring you back because we don’t have the cap space. We don’t want to cut someone. That’s it.
“He went and signed with Adelaide, but I don’t know why he’s mad at the organisation and throwing these kinds of shots in passing. I don’t understand it.”
BOGUT TAKES SWIPE AT 36ERS
The situation reignited this season when Bogut posted on social media, claiming there had been discussions among Adelaide players about the future of head coach Mike Wells. The post came days after the 36ers’ 97-77 loss to South East Melbourne, before their eventual semi-final win over the same opponent.
Bogut, who is a minority owner of the Kings, did not publicly walk back the comments, despite Sydney reaching out to Adelaide’s General Manager Matt Weston to apologise. The fallout was significant enough to be raised at an NBL owners’ meeting, including discussion around a potential code of conduct for club officials.
36ers owner Grant Kelley later addressed the issue on radio.
“I just thought it was very unfortunate for an assistant coach of another club to do that,” he said.
GOORJIAN WELCOMES ‘HEALTHY’ RIVARLY
Legendary Kings coach Brian Goorjian spoke on the Big Sports Breakfast on Tuesday morning, acknowledging Saturday’s encounter between Rakocevic and Bogut was a continuation of what had become a tense rivarly.
“There’s a lot (of feeling). A lot has taken place over the course of the year and I think it’s healthy,” he said.
“He’s [Rakocevic] an emotional guy. I have no idea what went on there. I know he didn’t want to shake Boges’ hand …I don’t know anything that took place… but we haven’t taken any note of that .
“There’s been little dialogue that’s gone on all year, whether it’s the MVP, whether it’s initially how I’m using Xavier Cooks or what Bogut had to say about Mike Wells.
“I’m aware of it but it is like water of a duck’s back (for me)…. There’s a game to play”
The rivalry rolls on in Game Two of the NBL Finals, set for Friday, March 27 at 7:30pm AEDT at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
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