NBA Fines Suns Guard Devin Booker $35K For Calling Ref ‘Terrible’ Following Game 2 Loss Vs. Thunder

Phoenix Suns All-Star Devin Booker did not mix up his words following a 120-107 Game 2 loss to the defending champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and it cost him a $35,000 fine.

Booker called out official James Williams in his postgame press conference, saying that he was “terrible.”

The five-time All-Star picked up a bizarre technical in the third quarter of game two that clearly ticked off Booker enough for him to rip into the officiating. He even compared the NBA to pro wrestling during his press conference.

“In my 11 years, I haven’t called a ref out by name, but James [Williams] was terrible tonight through and through,” Booker said.

“It’s bad for the sport, bad for the integrity of the sport. People are going to start viewing this as a WWE if they’re not held responsible.”

Booker wasn’t the only Suns player to call out the officiating, as Suns forward Dillon Brooks had similar gripes about how the game is being officiated.

“When I used to watch this back when Michael Jordan was playing, or whoever else, when LeBron [James] was younger, it was physical basketball,” Brooks said.

“I don’t get why all the falling, the flopping and flailing and all this stuff is allowed when we get to the playoffs. Leave that for the [regular] season, for the fans. This is about who is the better team, who is the [smarter] team. Don’t decide the games on free throws.”

Brooks went in on his Canadian national team teammate and reigning league MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, calling him “frail” and this is a “man’s” game.

The Suns will welcome the Thunder for games three and four in hopes of evening the series and heading back to Oklahoma City.

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Article by Sam Lanier