[SIDRef]

The player was in no way justified in hitting the referee.

Yet I think the official could have prevented the incident. How?

Watch the tape. The ref, in repsonse to thug's objection to his non-call on the foul, did not "T with dignity." The official practically t-d him in his face then walked in his path.

The response may have been different if he would've unemotionally called the T, then looped away from the player to report the foul.

For what it's worth, I hope the player gets punished big time.