Suns star Devin Booker has been fined $35K for his public criticism of the Game 2 referee crew, the NBA announced (via Twitter).
Following Wednesday’s loss, Booker was not shy in expressing his displeasure about receiving a technical foul, which he claimed was prompted by the Thunder’s Alex Caruso telling the referee to call it. The technical foul was rescinded after the game.
“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 a WWE if they’re not held responsible.”
Suns owner Mat Ishbia backed Booker up following the game, taking to Twitter to say that while the officiating wasn’t the reason they lost, it was still unacceptable.
“If the referees are going to demand respect from the players — as they should — then the players should demand respect from the referees,” Ishbia said. “When a referee is missing calls and clearly disrespecting the players, almost mocking them, they must be held accountable.”
The league said that following video review and inquiries, they “found no basis to any claim of bias or misconduct by game officials.”
Game 3 of the first-round series between the Suns and Thunder will be Saturday.
If players are fined for honesty about the officials then the press needs to not be allowed to ask about it. This is absolutely disgusting what the league does fine players for not available to the media and the fine them when the media asks the questions they will get fined for. The league makes billions of dollars, stealing from the players is absurd. The officials are professionals that make plenty of money considering what their job is. If they do a bad job they should get criticized.
Well the fine money usually ends up going to charity but it is sad that Leagues fine players for telling the truth. And it’s getting worse by the day. If you don’t want players talking about it hire and train some decent officials. Try that.
Let’s see what the TWO MINUTE REPORT has to say.
There won’t be one, because the game wasn’t within 5 points at the end.
He wasn’t lying.
“He wasn’t lying” says the guy who implies 100 sports writers and broadcasters aren’t qualified to name candidates (SGA) for the Sportsmanship Award.
You know how the old saying goes: Death, taxes, and crooked referees screwing the Suns in the playoffs.
The refs are getting worse and worse, the refs should be fined and called out thats what the nba needs to do
Sadly this is the reality of playing OKC, the league’s darling team for whatever unknown reason!
@ El Don…if a small market team like OKC can win chips and spend cash, every small market team can right? Follow the money.
Help! Help! The paranoids are after me!
Title should be:
Devin Booker Fined $35K For Telling The Truth
I’m really surprised someone hasn’t filed a civil rights lawsuit when these types of fines come up.
How is Devin Booker’s civil rights violated by a fine? Do you really think freedom of speech means you can just say anything and anybody who has a problem with it should be sued?
IANAL but I do consultations for a firm all day. Between thinking law suits is a place to air grievances and “innocent until proven guilty” being adopted as a standard of proof for opinions American’s literally don’t know the first thing about our civics.
This is why we have a Trump, we’re ignorant and think our opinions are reality.
Oof. Booker got fined for saying the quiet part out loud. In this NBA business, the players are aware of the rigged system, yet within that system, they genuinely are free to play at their ultimate best, with all that ensues; up to winning a championship if they can get it done within the sliver of opportunity given to make games exciting. Booker knows.
Ahhhhh, “rigged system”. Orange hair?
Bro got fined for having an opinion 💀
Being fined for telling the truth is crazy.
Booker was right. It was a terrible call. Whaotge official going to get.