Devin Booker was at the center of controversy during Wednesday’s Game 2 road clash against the Oklahoma City Thunder after multiple questionable calls went against the Phoenix Suns star.
After the Suns’ 120-107 loss, which dropped them into a daunting 2-0 hole in the first-round Western Conference series, the five-time All-Star bluntly called out the referees, hinting that the contest was rigged like the WWE.
Devin Booker Rips Controversial Officiating After Suns-Thunder Game 2
The Suns were already fighting an uphill battle on the road against the No. 1-seeded Thunder. However, Booker’s frustrations boiled over multiple times during the night, and he did not hold back in his postgame press conference.
Booker aired his grievances about a bizarre technical foul whistled against him and the role that Thunder guard Alex Caruso played in getting it called.
The play in question occurred with a little over two minutes left in the third quarter. Booker was dribbling toward the sideline when OKC big man Jaylin Williams bumped him and forced the ball loose. The 29-year-old tried to save it but ended up colliding with the Thunder bench as the ball hit Williams.
Alex Caruso just told the ref to call a tech on Booker for saving the ball out of bounds and hitting Williams and the ref complied. pic.twitter.com/uLmw2IEAR3
— Mike Vigil (@protectedpick) April 23, 2026
As Booker walked back onto the court, Caruso could be seen signaling to the refs that he should be assessed a technical foul, prompting Booker to speak out.
“It’s definitely something that has to be looked into. I heard Caruso tell them to call the tech, and he ended up doing it,” Booker said postgame.
“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, bad for the integrity of the sport. People are going to start viewing this as the WWE if they’re not held responsible.”
Whoa…. Devin Booker just WENT OFF on the NBA refs right now in the post game press conference:
“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,… pic.twitter.com/lfc7UBBue5
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) April 23, 2026
Suns head coach Jordan Ott was also asked about the technical foul during his postgame presser and whether he received an explanation from the officials. Ott clarified that the referees were unable to provide a reason for the call, as play quickly resumed.
That was not the only controversial call of the night involving Booker, as he was also whistled for a divisive offensive foul in the second quarter. The star shooting guard elevated against Caruso in the post and finished the basket, but it was waved off.
Just moments later, Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander executed a move that looked similar to Booker’s. This time around, it was called a shooting foul, which resulted in free throws for the reigning MVP. One notable difference, though, is that Booker seemingly clipped Caruso’s nose during his move.
After Gilgeous-Alexander’s move, Booker tried to appeal to the refs, arguing that the two plays were nearly identical, hoping that the call would be overturned, to no avail.
Doris Burke is FRYING the refs for the difference in officiating between Devin Booker and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pic.twitter.com/fpjIT6YusN
— CantGuardBook (@CGBBURNER) April 23, 2026
This is not the first time that calls in favor of the Thunder have been questioned, as Gilgeous-Alexander and Co.’s favorable whistle has been an ongoing discussion all season long.
