Devin Booker Bracing for Possible NBA Punishment Over Game 2 Comments

For a second straight game, the Phoenix Suns were dominated by the Oklahoma City Thunder, losing 120-107, but trailed by 23 entering the fourth quarter.

Suns are now in a 2-0 hole and both Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker were quite vocal in the postgame about the officiating, in fact, Booker personally called referee James Williams for his performance in Game 2, calling it “terrible.”

“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,” Booker said.

“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,” he added. “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.”

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There's a strong chance Booker will face discipline from the league for publicly criticizing officials - especially for calling one out by name - something Michael Wilbon highlighted during Thursday's episode of “Get Up.”

"The ramifications are going to be writing a check - a sizable one," Wilbon said. "That's a direct hit you don't hear often. Calling out a ref… it was a bad call, but I don't think the league is going to take that into account."

Much of Booker's frustration appeared to stem from a questionable technical foul after he attempted to save a ball from going out of bounds and made contact with Jaylin Williams. While it looked like a hustle play, officials ruled the contact intentional.

Beyond that sequence, the Suns were called for 25 team fouls compared to 21 for the Thunder. Booker was assessed three personal fouls, while Brooks ultimately fouled out with six.

“That should be a new thing in the NBA. Officials got to explain themselves because it’s getting ridiculous when you can see it,” Brooks said after the game. “It starts getting fiery. No control out there. Now they’re just whistling on one side.”

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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 7:51 AM.