Rick Carlisle lambastes refs union on Mike Budenholzer's behalf
NBA Coaches Association president Rick Carlisle is irate over the NBA Referee Union's actions against Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer.
Not only did the officials toss Budenholzer for bumping a referee last week, the refs union also lobbied for his suspension. That was way over the line for Carlisle, who defiantly stood up for his colleague.
As relayed by ESPN's Tim MacMahon:
The NBA Coaches Association greatly values our working relationship with the league office and our officials. For the record, our association with NEVER lobby for the suspension of an official for a situation like this one that has been thoroughly reviewed by the NBA and clearly determined to be incidental in nature.
We view the unwarranted and reckless verbal attacks by Referee Union general counsel as grandstanding in nature, and beneath the dignity of the highly regarded group whose interests he claims to represent.
The best interests of our great league lie far about what appears to be an obvious cheap and misguided attempt for a blast of short-term Twitter fame.
Budenholzer was ejected and also paid a $25,000 fine.