NZ Breakers boss Matt Walsh has appealed the two-match ban imposed on him by the Australian NBL.
He was also fined $5000, after a verbal stoush with the league's commissioner at Saturday's game against the South East Melbourne Phoenix.
Walsh was angered that the club's poster boy RJ Hampton was the only player ejected after a melee early in the loss to the Phoenix.
"There was swearing both sides," Walsh said.
Looking back, he regrets how he handled the situation, but thinks the punishment for breaching three clauses in the NBL's code of conduct doesn't fit the crime, especially considering Sydney coach Will Weaver was only handed a $500 suspended fine for his outburst earlier in the week.
"My incident was far less public, far less animated, far less heated, and it was $5000 and two games."
On Thursday morning, Walsh appealed the decision and told Newshub he hoped for a hearing as soon as possible.
But in an act of solidarity, his players say they will pay the fine, if the decision is upheld.
"He was out there fighting for us," guard Corey Webster told Newshub. "You know we want to show that back, that we've got his back as well."
Walsh appreciates the gesture, but says he wouldn't allow that to happen.
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