Perth coach laughs off clash with 'boofhead' Bogut in loss to Sydney

Perth coach Trevor Gleeson has cheerfully admitted trying to milk his clash with Sydney Kings star Andrew Bogut, while hailing the return of his inspirational skipper Damian Martin.

Gleeson and Bogut came together with some pushing and shoving in the last 30 seconds their NBL game, which the Kings won 77-72, in Sydney of Thursday.

Bogut tried to eavesdrop as the Perth mentor instructed his team huddle during a break that was not at an official timeout.

"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 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, when it's all said and done," Gleeson said.

"He's going to have a statue in probably every stadium in Perth.

'He just plays with so much passion and intensity out there and he does all the intangible stuff that doesn't come out on the stat sheet.

"It's the deflections, it's the leadership, it's just the level he plays at.

"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.

"Nick is just a workhorse, he's fantastic out there, we've got to get him the ball a little bit more," Gleeson said.

The coach 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.