PHOENIX – Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker made headlines for his comments about the officiating after Game 2 vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder. The usual level-headed 29-year-old couldn’t hold his tongues for how awful he found the officiating, even calling out referee James Williams by name. Many sports show discussed the validity of Booker’s comments, with former player DeMarcus Cousins sticking up for him.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Cousins appeared on FanDuel’s “Run It Back” show and questioned why holding the refs accountability is seen as a “taboo” concept.
Mar 25, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) smiles with Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) after Booker fouled Cousins on a shot during the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Cousins supports Booker’s comments:
During his playing career, Cousins had a very famous rocky relationships with referees. His fiery and passionate personality saw him get 143 technical and 17 ejections. The 35-year-old has been on the end of some terrible officiating and has gotten to hold no accountability against them. Cousins is understandably very on board of putting some rules or punishments in place to limit this type of behavior in the future.
Jun 22, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Clippers center DeMarcus Cousins (15) argues with Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) following game two of the Western Conference Finals for the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
In Wednesday’s game, the anger started because of the lack of communication from the referees. Booker was called for a technical foul because he was falling out of bounds and was trying to save the ball and threw it backwards, hitting Thunder center Jaylin Williams. Guard Alex Caruso saw the throw as intentional and told the refs to call the technical, which they were happy to comply.
Postgame Booker stated he wasn’t given an explanation on why he got the technical, and in his 11 years of basketball he’s never seen someone ask and receive that type of request. The five-time All-Star is a stoic person, but Game 2 was enough to put that to the side and call out the officiating misbalance.
Suns’ Devin Booker lets rare frustration show against referees after Wednesday’s matchup
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
