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Cavs Coach Atkinson Fined $50K After Ejection

2/1/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The NBA fined Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson $50,000 for aggressively pursuing and berating a game official, including inadvertent contact.
The incident occurred during a Phoenix Suns game on January 30 and Atkinson was ejected after receiving his second technical foul with 10:59 left in the fourth.
The Cavaliers lost 126-113, ending their five-game winning streak.
The Cavaliers are scheduled to play the Portland Trail Blazers next.

History

Historical Context

In 1995, the NBA introduced stricter conduct rules to uphold game integrity, imposing fines up to $50,000 for severe misconduct, notably affecting coaches like Pat Riley. This initiative followed a series of incidents involving coaches and officials. Recently, Kenny Atkinson received a similar $50,000 fine for berating an official, highlighting ongoing challenges in maintaining professionalism within the league.

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Story summary

The NBA fined Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson $50,000 for aggressively pursuing and berating a game official, including inadvertent contact.
The incident occurred during a Phoenix Suns game on January 30 and Atkinson was ejected after receiving his second technical foul with 10:59 left in the fourth.
The Cavaliers lost 126-113, ending their five-game winning streak.
The Cavaliers are scheduled to play the Portland Trail Blazers next.

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