I do not think anyone is surprised by this, but it is worth noting. Following the Phoenix Suns’ loss in Game 2 to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Devin Booker spoke out about the officiating. It was a physical game, and there were some egregious calls that stood out. You could feel his frustration after the final buzzer.
“In my 11 years, I haven’t called a ref out by name, but James [Williams] was terrible tonight,” Booker stated after the game. “Through and through. It’s bad for the sport, bad for the integrity
of the sport. People are going to start viewing this as a WWE, you know, if they’re not held responsible.”
Based on those comments, you know the fines would come. Because how dare he question the almighty celestial entity that is NBA officiating?
In a statement by the league, where they announced that Booker would be fined $35,000 for his comments, they stated, “Following an investigation including multiple interviews and video review, the league found no basis of bias or misconduct by game officials.” But they also added that they, “determined Booker’s technical foul at 2:05 in the third quarter was improperly assessed and therefore it has been rescinded.”
Umm, there was no misconduct by the officials, but they still improperly assessed a technical foul, which, if you’re being honest, lives in the same neighborhood as misconduct. Did James Jones proofread that statement before it went out? Because it reads like nonsense. The league is fining Booker for reacting to them being right, which somehow makes the whole thing feel even more ridiculous.
I think Booker speaking up has a purpose. This is a series where expectations are low, but that does not mean you accept how the game is being called. As things shift back to Phoenix for Game 3, there is a good chance the whistle tightens up. Officials tend to respond in these spots. That can cut both ways. Oklahoma City plays with a lot of physicality, and that could be limited. At the same time, Phoenix may not get every call either. What it does do is create a more balanced environment, one where the Suns can lean into their own physical style.
Booker knew what he was doing. He took the fine, made his point, and put something on the record. Considering he has not called out officials in his 11-year career, it carries some weight.
We will see how much on Saturday at 12:30 in Phoenix.
