Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson during an NBA game.
The NBA fined Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson $50,000, according to a league release issued Jan. 31. The fine stems from an in-game incident that resulted in Atkinson receiving his second technical foul and being ejected during Cleveland’s Jan. 30 loss to the Phoenix Suns.
In the release, the league said Atkinson was penalized for “aggressively pursuing, berating, and making inadvertent contact with a game official.” The incident occurred with 10:59 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Cavaliers’ 126-113 loss at Mortgage Matchup Center.
NBA Communications
The following has been released by the NBA.
NBA Details the Incident Behind the Kenny Atkinson Fine
In discipline stories, the wording matters, and this one was direct.
The league announcement said Atkinson’s actions included aggressively pursuing and berating a game official, along with “inadvertent contact.” The NBA also noted Atkinson was assessed his second technical foul of the game and ejected when the incident occurred late in the fourth quarter.
The release was announced by James Jones, the NBA’s Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations, and it also referenced a link to view the incident.
For Cleveland, the key part is that this isn’t a suspension or an additional penalty that affects game availability, but it’s still a significant fine, and it puts a spotlight on how the league wants coaches handling officials in tense moments.
NBA Base
The NBA has fined Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson $50,000 for aggressively pursuing and making contact with a game official, the league announced.
Atkinson was ejected during Cleveland’s loss to the Suns on Friday.
What It Means for the Cavaliers Going Forward
The immediate impact is reputational and procedural more than it is tactical.
Atkinson being fined doesn’t automatically change Cleveland’s rotation or starting lineup, but it can matter in two practical ways:
Future officiating and escalation risk: Once a coach is publicly disciplined, the league has created a paper trail. If another similar incident happens, the next step can be steeper fines and, in some cases, suspensions.
Team messaging: Cleveland will likely want to move quickly back to basketball, but the story will follow the next press availability, especially if Atkinson is asked to address what happened.
If you’re the Cavaliers, you also want to avoid a “serial” discipline narrative where every close call becomes another headline about officials, technicals, or league action, particularly if the team is in the middle of a playoff push.
Stats, Score and Context
Final score: Phoenix Suns 126, Cleveland Cavaliers 113
Cavaliers record at the time: 29-21 (12-10 away)
Suns record at the time: 30-19 (17-6 home)
Leading scorers
Rebounds / assists leaders
Cleveland rebounding leader: Jarrett Allen 7 rebounds
Phoenix rebounding leader: Mark Williams 7 rebounds
Cleveland assists leader: Donovan Mitchell 6 assists (tied with Thomas Bryant, 6)
Phoenix assists leader: Grayson Allen 5 assists (tied with Collin Gillespie 5 and Jamaree Bouyea 5)
Next game
Extra facts
Phoenix won despite star guard Devin Booker being sidelined by a sprained ankle.
The loss snapped Cleveland’s five-game winning streak (season-best at the time), per the AP recap.
Prior ejection context: Atkinson was also ejected earlier this season (Nov. 10, 2025) after a second technical vs the Miami Heat.
What Happens Next
The fine is now official, and the next step is whether Atkinson publicly addresses the moment — or if the Cavaliers treat it as a closed book and focus on the schedule.
Either way, league discipline almost always creates a second-day news cycle: coach comments, team response, and whether it changes behavior with officials in the next tight finish.