Suns owner Mat Ishbia backs Devin Booker, sends strong message on officiating controversy following Game 2 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia took to X to defend star guard Devin Booker and called out referees following the officiating controversy in Game 2's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Ishbia made it clear that he is not blaming the officiating for the loss, but that he wants them to be held accountable.
" I am 100% behind Devin Booker here," Ishbia wrote. "Last night was not a good look for our league. Let me be clear, we didn’t lose because of officiating, but that doesn’t make last night any less important. If the referees are going to demand respect from the players - as they should - then the players should demand respect from the referees. When a referee is missing calls and clearly disrespecting the players, almost mocking them, they must be held accountable. Nobody who loves this game enjoyed watching that last night. They want to see the players compete at the highest level. The league needs be far more aggressive about this kind of thing. All players and all fans deserve it."
I am 100% behind Devin Booker here. Last night was not a good look for our league. Let me be clear, we didn’t lose because of officiating, but that doesn’t make last night any less important. If the referees are going to demand respect from the players - as they should - then the… https://t.co/SR0lM9Y3FS
After the loss, Booker was on the podium speaking to the media and did not hesitate to call out the officiating, specifically referee James Williams.
"In my 11 years, I haven't called a ref out by name, but James [Williams] was terrible tonight through and through," Booker said. "It's bad for the sport, bad for the integrity of the sport. People are going to start viewing this as a WWE if they're not held responsible.
"It just feels disrespectful. 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."
Booker was not shy to express his frustration after the game, especially regarding the technical foul he received in the third quarter. The five-time All-Star said that he was given the technical after Thunder guard Alex Caruso told the referee to give him the tech.
The former Kentucky Wildcat expressed that he is well aware that he may very likely be fined before Game 3.
Bad officiating or not, the Suns stare down a 0-2 hole to the defending champions. They will now head back to Phoenix for Games 3 and 4 with a chance to get on the board in front of their home fans.
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