The Phoenix Suns are trailing 2-0 in the series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. While that’s to be expected because it’s a matchup between the #1 and #8 seeds, Booker isn’t a fan of what he’s experienced with the referees during the series.
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Booker made sure to point this out during his post-match press conference. He specifically called out referee James Williams, which quickly led to the NBA fining him $25,000 on Thursday.
The confusing decision of the NBA with the comments of referee Devin Booker
OKC has become known for its manipulation of referees. Gilgeous-Alexander is excellent at making contact and finishing plays with an and-one. That’s a legitimate skill now, but other players have also done well at forcing calls.
Some sell contact well to draw offensive fouls, while others get away with some clever moves that referees don’t see. In Game 2, Booker was very frustrated when Alex Caruso called for a technical foul, and then Booker was called for one almost immediately.
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FURTHER: Devin Booker attacks referee James Williams after Game 2
Any player would be frustrated by that, but it was the turning point for Booker. He’s not the type of player to complain about referees, but the second game was the last straw.
Now, the NBA has fined him accordingly, but also confirmed that the technical foul was assessed incorrectly, so it was overturned. However, Booker received a fine from the NBA.
This is an interesting situation because it seems like the NBA is taking responsibility for the mistakes the referees made during Game 2. However, the league still fined the player who exposed the problem.
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It’s an interesting angle to take from the NBA, but it could still have a long-term effect. If the referees step up their officiating, this could be a big win for any team in the league.