Devin Booker Demands Investigation Into NBA Refs After Game 2 Loss
Devin Booker should be expecting a hefty fine from the NBA in the near future.
After the Phoenix Suns dropped Game 2 of their first-round series with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Booker complained about Wednesday night's officiating crew. The All-Star guard was visibly frustrated about receiving a technical foul with 2:05 left in the third quarter.
Not only did Booker say the league has to investigate its officials, he called out referee James Williams by name.
"It's definitely something that has to be looked at. I heard (Alex) Caruso tell them to call the tech and he ended up doing it. In my 11 years, I haven't called a ref out by name, but James (Williams) was terrible tonight, through and through. It's bad for the sport, bad for the integrity of the sport. People are going to start viewing this as the WWE if they're not held responsible," Booker told reporters.
"I know I haven't won a championship in this league but I have been in it for 11 years now, so to get to this point to be treated like that, for me to even be saying something out loud, it's bad. It's my first time in 11 years but it's needed. Whatever, I get fined for it, everybody can pull the clips and see where the frustration comes from."
Devin Booker wasn't the only Suns player who ripped the officials.
Suns forward Dillon Brooks also put the referees on blast Wednesday night. He specifically complained about the special treatment Shai Gilgeous-Alexander receives from the officials.
"Like, I used to watch this back when Michael Jordan was playing or whoever else, when LeBron was younger. This is physical basketball," Brooks said, via ESPN. "I don't get why all the dropping and the falling and the flopping and the 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's the better team, who's a more with-it team. Don't decide the games on no free throws."
Talk about airing out all of your thoughts. We'll see if the NBA lays the hammer down on Booker and Brooks before this series resumes in Phoenix.
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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 9:17 AM.