Suns Frustrated by Officiating Inconsistencies: “We Just Want It Called Both Ways”
SCOTTSDALE - The Phoenix Suns aren’t alone in feeling the heat from NBA officiating lately, but they’ve certainly been one of the more vocal teams about it. Devin Booker, never one to shy away from speaking his mind, has once again called attention to what he sees as a growing issue: a lack of consistency from the referees, especially in the crucial moments of games.
After Monday’s practice, Booker didn’t mince words when asked what he wants from the officials.
“Just consistency in the game,” he said. “One of my big problems is I watch all the games mostly every night, and expect to get similar calls to people that have the same usage rate as me, but that’s not the case.”
That’s the heart of the frustration - not just for Booker, but for players across the league. When stars with similar roles and usage rates are getting different whistles, it raises eyebrows.
And when those discrepancies show up in the final minutes of tight games? That’s when it really stings.
Booker added:
“In the game, with the referee crew you have, I think if similar plays happen on both sides, they should be called or not called.”
It’s a fair ask - not for favoritism, but for balance. If a blocking foul is called on one end, players expect the same call on the other. That’s how you build trust in the officiating, and right now, that trust is clearly strained.
The Suns have had a rough stretch recently when it comes to late-game officiating. In their matchup with the Lakers, the final two minutes turned into a review fest - 25 in total - and one of those calls ended up swinging the game in L.A.’s favor. That kind of stop-and-start officiating not only disrupts the flow but can also tilt the outcome in high-stakes moments.
Two nights later, against the Warriors, the whistle wasn’t quite as busy, but Phoenix still felt the imbalance. There were several borderline calls that could’ve easily gone the other way - and in a league where every possession matters, those moments add up.
Head coach Jordan Ott, while not eager to dwell on the officiating, acknowledged the frustrations but kept his focus on what the team can control.
Devin Booker said to @DuaneRankin there’s a ‘consistency’ issue with the officiating crews.
— Hayden Cilley (@HaydenCilley) December 22, 2025
I followed up and asked Booker what he wants that consistency to look like.
“Just consistency in the game… with the referee crew that you have, if similar plays happen on both sides,… pic.twitter.com/wAaxOwtJkx
“What everyone’s going to say is that there are so many things that go on in the game, there’s so many mistakes made by all of us. My focus is always how can we be better,” Ott said.
That’s the coach’s mindset - keep the attention on internal improvements. But even Ott couldn’t ignore that there were things from the Golden State game that needed cleaning up - and not all of them were on the Suns’ end.
“There’s definitely things that we need to clean up from the last game. I’ll stick to that for now,” he added.
Still, the message from the Suns is clear: they’re not asking for an edge, just a level playing field. And in a league where every game can shift playoff seeding or momentum, consistency from the officials isn’t just a luxury - it’s a necessity.
Until that standard is met, expect players like Booker - and teams across the league - to keep speaking up.