Fred VanVleet Launches Scathing Attack on Officials After Raptors Loss to Clippers

Fred VanVleet Launches Scathing Attack on Officials After Raptors Loss to Clippers

Edwin Kiplagat
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:27 PM
  • Fred Van Vleet pulled no punches when talking about referee Ben Taylor after the Toronto Raptors' loss to the LA Clippers
  • The 29-year-old was handed a technical early in the third quarter, his eighth of the season
  • The veteran point guard finished with 13 points as his team lost their fourth game in their last six

Toronto Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet blasted referees after they lost to the Los Angeles Clippers 108-100 at Crypto.com Arena.

In a rant that will likely attract a hefty fine, VanVleet did not hold back against referee Ben Taylor, using expletives to criticize him.

Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors, NBA, LA Clippers
Fred VanVleet has eight technicals this season. Photo by Chris Coduto.
Source: Getty Images

The 29-year-old had a tough game. He finished with 13 points, four rebounds, and nine assists. Taylor handed him a technical foul with seven minutes left in the third quarter. It was his eighth of the season.

The 2019 NBA champions were called for 23 fouls to the hosts' 18. Ty Lue's side, however, had 31 free-throw attempts while the Raptors had 14, per ESPN.

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Van Vleet rant on referees

After the game, the veteran point guard had some strong words for Taylor. He took no prisoners.

"I'll take a fine, I don't care. I thought Ben Taylor was (expletive) terrible tonight. I thought that on most nights, out of the three, there's one or two that just (expletive) the game up, you know," VanVleet said. "It's been like that a couple of games in a row. Denver was tough obviously. We come out tonight competing pretty hard and then in the third quarter I get a (expletive) tech. Changes the whole dynamic of the game, changed the whole flow of the game," via Sportsnet.

Three of VanVleet's technicals have come from Taylor.

The Raptors are 2-4 in their last six games. They've now had two straight games with second half technicals. Scottie Barnes was called for a technical by Scott Foster, who ejected him in the last seconds of the game they lost 118-113.

Nick Nurse's team are ninth in the Eastern Conference and are looking to lock a play-in spot as the season enters the home stretch.

Drake watches Raptors with Adonis

Recently, rapper Drake took his son to watch the Toronto Raptors team get a crucial 124-114 win over the Charlotte Hornets, as Sports Brief reported.

The popular Canadian star sat courtside with his five-year-old son, Adonis Graham, to watch his team claim an important victory.

Adonis wore Puma White & Red Lamelo's, probably because he was watching Hornets point guard Lamelo Ball, who signed a multi-year deal with the brand in 2020.

Authors
Edwin Kiplagat photo
Edwin Kiplagat
Edwin Kiplagat has five years of experience in journalism working as a Sports Editor at Africa Insight Communications and ESPN. Edwin Kiplagat is a Bachelor's Degree holder in journalism from the Multimedia University of Kenya.