Dillon Brooks blasts officials following possible suspension

Suns forward criticizes referees for inconsistent calls after picking up 16th technical foul

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Dillon Brooks of the Phoenix Suns received his 16th technical foul during a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, putting him at risk of an automatic one-game suspension. Brooks criticized the referees for what he felt were inconsistent calls, saying they should "be bad the whole game" rather than trying to "even out foul calls."

Why it matters

Technical fouls are a major issue for Brooks, who leads the league in that category. An automatic suspension could hurt the Suns as they look to rest up during the All-Star break. Brooks' criticism of the officiating also highlights ongoing tensions between players and referees around the league.

The details

Brooks was assessed the 16th technical foul of his season by referee Jason Williams, who said Brooks was "playing the victim too much." The timing is crucial, as the technical came in the final game before the All-Star break. NBA rules state that every other technical foul (16, 18, 20, 22, etc.) results in an automatic one-game suspension.

  • Dillon Brooks received his 16th technical foul during the Phoenix Suns' 136-107 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.

The players

Dillon Brooks

A forward for the Phoenix Suns who leads the NBA in technical fouls this season.

Jason Williams

The NBA referee who assessed the technical foul to Dillon Brooks, saying he was "playing the victim too much."

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What they’re saying

“Consistency. If you're going to be consistently bad, then be consistently bad throughout the whole game. Don't try to fix it during the game. Don't try to do any of that or try to even out foul calls or whatever the case might be. If you're going to be bad, be bad the whole game.”

— Dillon Brooks, Suns Forward (Hayden Cilley)

What’s next

If the technical foul on Dillon Brooks stands, he will be forced to sit out the Suns' next game on Saturday against the Orlando Magic.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between players and referees in the NBA, as well as the potential impact technical fouls can have on a team's performance, especially heading into the All-Star break. Brooks' criticism of the officiating also raises questions about consistency and transparency in how technical fouls are called across the league.