Phoenix Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker was fined $35,000 for publicly criticizing officiating after the team’s Game 2 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.
The statement was made on Thursday by James Jones, the NBA’s Head of Basketball Operations.
The league said it discovered “no evidence to any allegation of bias or wrongdoing by game officials despite Booker’s vehement condemnation of official James Williams.
The NBA also stated that Booker’s technical foul at 2:05 in the third quarter was “improperly given and has thus been rescinded. ” The Thunder beat the game 120-107.
Suns owner Mat Ishbia supported the five-time All-Star on social media earlier Thursday.
“I am 100% supportive of Devin Booker here,” read the comment on X. “Last night was not a good look for our league. Let me be clear: we did not lose because of officiating, but this does not diminish the significance of last night. If referees are going to demand respect from the athletes (as they should), the athletes should demand respect from the referees.
The top-seeded Thunder have a 2-0 lead in the series. Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday in Phoenix.
