Devin Booker Rips Referees After Suns' Playoff Loss, Compares NBA to WWE
Devin Booker, the star guard for the Phoenix Suns, voiced strong criticism of the officiating following a 120-107 playoff loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 2 of their first-round series on Wednesday. Booker, who scored 22 points, singled out referee James Williams, labeling his performance as "terrible" and raising concerns about the integrity of the sport. In a rare move, Booker stated, "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 a WWE if they're not held responsible." Booker wasn't alone in his frustrations. Dillon Brooks, who contributed 30 points before fouling out late in the game, criticized Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for his reputation of flopping. Brooks remarked, "When I used to watch this back when Michael Jordan was playing... it was physical basketball. I don't get why all the falling, the flopping and flailing... Don't decide the games on free throws." Despite the complaints, the free-throw disparity was minimal, with the Thunder attempting 25 and the Suns 22. However, Booker's technical foul raised eyebrows, especially as it stemmed from an incident involving Jaylin Williams where the broadcasters expressed confusion. Booker expressed his frustration over an offensive foul call as well, questioning the inconsistency of officiating in playoff games. He stated, "I'm surprised this is happening on national TV in playoff games." Acknowledging the likelihood of a fine for his comments, Booker maintained, "This is my first time [calling out officials] in 11 years, but it's needed. Whatever I get fined for it, everybody can pull the clips and see where the frustration is from." This incident underscores the growing tension between players and officials as the playoff intensity ramps up.
Source: CBS Sports - 2026-04-23