dailyloe.com – Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker publicly criticized referee James Williams after a 120-107 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. The loss gave the defending champion Thunder a 2-0 series lead. Booker said Williams was terrible through and through. He said he had not called a referee out by name in his 11-year career.
Booker said the officiating was bad for the sport and its integrity. He warned that people might start viewing the league as a WWE if referees are not held responsible. Booker said the treatment felt disrespectful. He acknowledged he has not won a championship but has been in the league for 11 years.
Booker expressed displeasure with the officiating in general. He was particularly perturbed by a technical foul called against him with 2 minutes and 5 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Phoenix forward Dillon Brooks also criticized the officiating. Brooks took umbrage with whistles that benefited Oklahoma City’s reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 37 points. The Thunder now hold a 2-0 series lead over the Suns. The Suns join a list of teams that have publicly complained about officiating after a loss to the Thunder. The game was played in Oklahoma City.
