Cleveland Cavaliers Coach Fined After Game Incident
Cleveland, Ohio – Kenny Atkinson, the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, has been fined $50,000 by the NBA. The fine was announced on Saturday and stems from an incident that occurred during the Cavaliers’ game against the Phoenix Suns on Friday.
According to the NBA, the fine was issued because Atkinson “aggressively pursued, berated, and made inadvertent contact with a game official.” The specific moment in question happened with 10:59 remaining in the fourth quarter of the game, which the Cavaliers lost to the Suns 126-113.
During the game, Atkinson was given his second technical foul after reacting strongly to a no-call on a play involving Sam Merrill and Collin Gillespie. Atkinson went onto the court to argue the call, made contact with a referee and was then ejected from the game.
Following the game, Atkinson expressed his dissatisfaction with the officiating during the news conference. He questioned the number of free throws awarded to his team compared to their opponent and voiced concerns about the overall flow and management of the game.
“We had one free throw after three quarters against a team that [is 26th in fouls],” Atkinson said. “And the second free throw we got was after a flop. I’m not pleased. I thought the game got out of hand, quite honestly. Parts of the game seemed circus-like, quite honestly. I don’t know if that’s what we want as a league.
“Certain characters in this league take liberties, and we don’t stand up to them. And the game turns into reviews, challenges, go to the monitor for 20 minutes when we’re just trying to play basketball. I don’t think it’s good for the league, and I know it wasn’t good for us tonight. Thought they let the game get out of hand.”
The Cavaliers now hold a record of 29-21 for the season, while the Suns improved to 30-19 with their win.
The NBA’s decision to fine Atkinson highlights the league’s commitment to maintaining respect for game officials and upholding standards of conduct on the court. Coaches are expected to voice their concerns in a respectful manner, and crossing the line can result in disciplinary action.
