Hawks HC Mike Budenholzer Fined for Making Contact with Referee vs. Cavaliers

Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer was fined $25,000 Monday for making contact with a referee during this past Saturday's 109-97 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena.

Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today reported the news, as Budenholzer appeared to lightly bump the referee, was assessed a second technical foul for doing so after previously arguing a call and was ejected in the second quarter.   

Budenholzer explained afterward he wasn't even sure there was contact prior to his ejection, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Chris Vivlamore:

"

I didn't get a lot (of explanation on ejection) really. At the moment I tried to get more. I don't know. He threw me out. That's his prerogative. So, I'm sure we will learn more going forward.

I was very close to him. That seems like that could be the reason why he threw me out after just a single technical. If there was any contact it would be totally unintentional. If there is contact, I'm sure that's why he made the judgment call that he did.

"

After the announcement of the fine, National Basketball Referees Association head Lee Seham released a statement upset Budenholzer wasn't suspended for the incident, per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.

"Referees operate in environment in which an influential NBA team owner has repeatedly mocked the efficacy of fines as means to change bad behavior," Seham said. "Coaches should compete by creating better teams, not by physically intimidating officials."

Frustration had to be boiling over for Budenholzer, as his squad was losing by double digits to an opponent who swept it in the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals.

The Hawks have sunk to 9-6 after rolling to a hot start, winning seven of their first eight games of the season. At least so far in the 2015-16 campaign, the Eastern Conference is far more competitive, and Atlanta is hurting at the moment, with Paul Millsap, Jeff Teague and others banged up, per ESPN.com's Marc Stein.

The fine is quite a steep penalty for Budenholzer, considering his conduct didn't appear to show any malicious intent. Most important is for the 46-year-old coach to get his squad back on track in the crowded East, starting with Tuesday's home game against the Boston Celtics.