Copeland: Complaining a "bad look"

06 Nov 2026

Lanard Copeland and Derek Rucker draw on their own hot-headed early days to weigh in on the growing tension between players, coaches and referees.

By

NBL.com.au

Two NBL legends have weighed in on what appears to be incessant complaining by coaches and players this season.

The latest incident occurred during Illawarra’s big win over Cairns on Thursday night when Taipans’ coach Adam Forde picked up an early technical.

“Every coach is complaining, and every player is complaining. It looks bad for the players, and it’s taking focus off the game,” two-time championship winner Lanard Copeland said on NBL Now, presented by CODE Sports.

“[Don’t] say anything to them because you’re not going to change the refs’ minds once they make a call.”

Copeland said he had to change his approach before going on to build a Hall of Fame career.

“Lindsay Gaze sat me down and said, ‘Copes, you’re not going to change the referees’ minds. Play basketball. If they foul you, they foul you. Play through it,’” he added.

“I slowly changed because I led the League in technical fouls my first year.”

Derek Rucker, the 1990 MVP, learnt the same lesson after arriving in Australia as a young professional.

“I was the same. I was young, and I was hot-headed, and I thought I knew it all,” Rucker said.

“That’s why when I’m being critical now, it’s not from a point of trying to be judgmental, right?

“It’s from a point of experience and trying to be like, ‘Hey, you can overcome this; you have so much talent. The referee shouldn’t impact your game.’”

Round 8 of the Hungry Jack’s NBL27 Season continues on Friday night when Tasmania hosts New Zealand from 7.30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.