Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker fined $35,000 for verbally abusing a referee..

ESPN reported on Thursday that Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker has been fined $35,000 for verbally abusing a referee during the Western Conference Second Round playoffs game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

According to the report, the league has decided to rescind the technical foul call that prompted his reaction. Technical fouls against Dillon Brooks and Luguentz Dort that were called with 8:15 remaining in the third quarter have also been rescinded.

Booker was unhappy with being called for a technical foul in the third quarter for attempting to save the ball. He blindly threw the ball back onto the court, but it struck Oklahoma City Thunder center Jaylin Williams.

Following this, Thunder guard Alex Caruso immediately approached the referee, indicating a technical foul on Booker, believing he intentionally threw the ball towards Williams. The referee ultimately upheld the Thunder's request.

In response to the controversy, Booker stated in a post-game interview that in his 11-year career, he had never publicly criticized a referee by name, but he believed that referee James Williams' call was excessive and even violated fair play.

Booker jokingly added that if this trend of unfair officiating continued, people might view the NBA as a farce like the WWE.

The report added that during the game, Brooks criticized the referees in the Phoenix Suns' locker room for favouring the Thunder, the top seed in the Western Conference, in the first round series.

When asked about Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander being fouled late in the game, Brooks told reporters that they should interview the referees.

As the controversy escalated, Suns head coach Jordan Ott later publicly supported Booker, saying that the team still hadn't received a reason why Booker should have received a technical foul.

Team owner Mat Ishbia also posted, "I give 100% support to Devin Booker," Ishbia. "Last night's game was a terrible image for our league. I want to clarify that our loss wasn't due to the referees' calls, but that doesn't mean last night's game wasn't important."

"If referees demand respect from players, they should, and players should demand respect from referees. When referees miss calls, blatantly disrespect players, or even border on mockery, they must be held accountable."

"No one who loves this sport would have liked last night's game. They want to see players competing at the highest level. The league needs to take a more proactive approach to these kinds of incidents. All players and fans deserve this treatment."

Perhaps influenced by this controversy, the Suns ultimately lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder 120-107 in this game.

In this game, Booker played 40 minutes, scoring 22 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and dishing out 4 assists.

Image source: Internet / ESPN