Devin Booker Blasts NBA Ref James Williams: 'People Will Think This Is WWE'
Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker called out NBA referee James Williams by name after their Game 2 loss to the Thunder on Wednesday. Booker was angry about a technical foul he received during the game.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker broke his usual silence about referees after Wednesday's playoff loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He directly named referee James Williams and criticized his performance throughout the game.
"In my 11 years, I haven't called a ref out by name, but James was terrible tonight, through and through," Booker said at the postgame news conference. "It's bad for the sport, it's bad for the integrity of the sport."
The controversy started when Thunder guard Alex Caruso signaled to Williams that Booker deserved a technical foul. Williams agreed and called the technical on Booker, which angered the Suns star.
Booker warned that poor officiating could hurt how fans view the NBA. "People are going to start viewing this as the WWE if they're not held accountable," he said, comparing basketball to professional wrestling where outcomes are scripted.
This marks the first time in Booker's 11-year career that he has publicly criticized a referee by name. The technical foul call helped the Thunder in their playoff series against Phoenix.
When star players publicly criticize refs by name, it shows growing tension between players and officials. Poor officiating can make fans lose trust that games are fair and legitimate.
The NBA could fine Booker for publicly criticizing an official. The playoff series between the Suns and Thunder continues.
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