Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals was a pretty eventful affair. Amid a series of intense plays throughout the game, Devin Booker picked up his sixth foul, which was enough to get him ejected from the final minutes of the game.
During that event, ESPN broadcaster Mark Jackson mistakenly thought Booker’s exit was just a strategy by head coach Monty Williams.
Nobody tell Mark Jackson that Devin Booker has fouled out pic.twitter.com/wahqpa5ySP
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) June 27, 2021
That mistake by Jackson proved to be the catalyst for a wild night for Twitter, in which they flamed the former coach.
Yo mark jackson was trippin during the game 🤣🤣🤣
— ًًً (@Boliever_10) June 27, 2021
Mark Jackson praising Monty Williams for taking out Devin Booker to “avoid him fouling out” while the graphic is on the screen showing the world that Booker has, indeed, already fouled out. pic.twitter.com/CCAUdAp9cE
— Doug Stevens (@doug321) June 27, 2021
I was distracted when this happened and was very confused. I hear its his 6th foul and Mark Jackson saying the coach is taking him out… i was like wait what??
— H (@DataMiming) June 27, 2021
I love that the graphic was up for half of this point from Mark Jackson. Have to protect Devin Booker, he’s technically in the max amount of foul trouble pic.twitter.com/JYB4yDy0Kr
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) June 27, 2021
https://twitter.com/chuckguarantees/status/1408992946041413642
mark jackson has got to be one of the worst nba commentators ever my god
— joc 🦈 (@ferrawrrii) June 27, 2021
Dawg Mark Jackson make me mad. I really don’t know why 😭😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/nn0NMgJPH7
— Guts (@Slim_Reaper11) June 27, 2021
https://twitter.com/MMiranda613/status/1409007615728881668
Obviously, slip-ups are going to happen in this business, and it should not be held against Mark that he made an honest mistake during a broadcasting session.
It happens all the time and it’s impossible to be perfect.
Still, the NBA community can be rather ruthless when it comes to this sort of thing, and we saw that on full display tonight.
When you slip up like that in front of millions, it’s going to usually result in quite a bit of backlash.
Fortunately, Mark is a good commentator overall, and it seems he doesn’t let the noise of criticism get to him — which is more than can be said for many in the business.
