Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker believes that the refs willfully ignore the Oklahoma City Thunder’s excessive physicality, and he isn’t keeping quiet about it.
Following the 120-107 Game 2 loss, Booker ripped the officials involved and even called out a referee by name.
When recalling the lack of fouls drawn, Booker said, “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. It’s bad for the sport. [It’s] bad for the integrity of the sport. People are going to start viewing this as the WWE if they’re not held responsible.”
Booker added that despite not boasting a championship pedigree, he’s been in the NBA long enough to earn a whistle.
“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.”
While his teammates will appreciate their star player sticking up for them, Booker’s comments will likely warrant a hefty fine from the league office, which he is okay with.
“Whatever, I’ll get fined for it, [But] everybody can pull the clips and see where the frustration comes from.”
OKC is Known For Its Physical Brand of Basketball
GettyMultiple NBA stars have called out OKC Thunder’s physical defense
Booker is not the first player to call the Thunder out for fouling excessively.
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon called out the team for being “handsy” during their playoff matchup last year. Gordon stated that the fouling was so consistently ignored that he advised Nikola Jokic and his teammates to play through the physicality.
“They’re calling the second foul almost every time,” Gordon said. “They’re fouling Joker first, and then Joker is reactionary, and they do get the second guy a lot of the time. But they’re fouling him, point blank, period, throughout the game. You can’t call every foul, or you’d be calling a foul every single play, but they’re fouling him.
“I also mentioned to Joke, you gotta play through it. You gotta play through it, you gotta be stronger, be more physical. All of us do. We all gotta play through it because they’re not gonna call a foul every single play. Very handsy team.”
Earlier that same season, Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch called out the Thunder, stating that they “foul all the time.”
Suns Return to Phoenix For Game 3
GettyPhoenix has only won one playoff series when they begin 0-2
Devin Booker and the Suns return to Phoenix for Game 3 on Saturday, April 25, facing a 0-2 series deficit.
Historically, the Suns have struggled in series in which they drop the first two games, boasting a 1-11 record in such instances. Their sole comeback occurred in 1993, when they surged back to eliminate the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.
Game 3 will tip at 12:30 p.m. MST Monday at Mortgage Matchup Center with coverage on Peacock and NBC Sports Network.
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