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Koby Altman’s days as the president of the Cleveland Cavaliers may soon be numbers after footage emerged from an arrest for operating a vehicle while under the influence.
Altman, 41, joined the Cavaliers front office in 2012. He won an NBA Championship as director of pro personnel in 2016 and became assistant general manager for the 2016–17 season.
He was promoted to GM in July of 2017, making one of just for black general managers in the league at the time.
In 2022, Cleveland named Altman its president of basketball operations.
But that title could soon be gone.
Ohio State Highway Patrol says troopers stopped Altman just before 9 p.m. on Friday. Troopers claim that Altman failed to properly operate his vehicle within marked lines.
The patrol said, “troopers initiated a traffic stop and during their interaction with the driver indicators of impairment were observed. The driver was subsequently placed under arrest for OVI and soon after offered a breath test which he refused.”
“Throughout the traffic stop, Altman was respectful and cooperative with troopers,” the patrol added.
But we now have evidence of incident after video hit the internet late Sunday night.
Dash camera video shows Altman’s car being pulled over, and more body camera video shows interaction with the trooper before Altman even got out of the driver’s seat.
“You were speeding, almost caused an accident back there. Why were you going so fast?” the trooper can be heard saying.
Altman then tells the trooper that he’d had “one or two” drinks after being asked.
At that point, the trooper initiates a field sobriety test.
Altman stumbled at various points during the test, telling the trooper at one point: “you messed me up.”
To which the trooper answered, “How did I mess you up?’
Altman refused a breathalyzer test and was placed under arrest.
“Have you ever been arrested for OVI before,” the officer asks. To which Altman answers, “No?”
The state trooper then places the Cavs president under arrest.
“We are aware of an incident involving Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman. We are currently gathering more information and have no further comment at this time,” the team said in a statement following the arrest.