NBA fines Raptors’ Fred VanVleet $30K for swear-filled rant

NBA handed Fred VanVleet a $30,000 fine for “public criticism of the officiating” following the Raptors’ 108-100 road defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Toronto Raptors’ Fred VanVleet drives to the net between Detroit Pistons’ Jaden Ivey and Isaiah Stewart during the second-half NBA game in Toronto on February 12, 2023. | Photo Credit: AP

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet began his profanity-filled tirade on Wednesday by saying, “I’ll take a fine, I don’t really care.”

The NBA obliged a day later, handing him a $30,000 fine for “public criticism of the officiating.”

That description is a euphemism for what VanVleet said following the Raptors’ 108-100 road defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers. In particular, VanVleet singled out referee Ben Taylor.

“I thought Ben Taylor was (expletive) terrible tonight,” VanVleet said, speaking calmly. “For most nights, out of the three (officials) there’s one or two that just (expletive) the game up. It’s been like that a couple games in a row. ... You come out tonight competing pretty hard, in the third quarter, I get a (expletive) tech, (and it) changes the whole dynamic of the game, changes the whole flow of the game.

“Most of the refs are trying hard, I like a lot of refs, they’re trying hard, they’re pretty fair, they communicate well, and then you got the other ones who just want to be (expletive). It just kind of (expletive) the game up. Nobody’s coming to see that (expletive), they come to see the players. I think we’re losing a bit of the fabric of what the NBA is and was. It’s been disappointing this season.”

VanVleet took a different stance when he spoke to the media on Thursday.

“Speaking for a lot of guys, obviously I was frustrated, emotional, but there are a lot of people that feel that way,” he said. “Hopefully going forward we see some change for the better, the betterment of the game. It was a little emotional, a tough loss, things not going our way, got caught up in the moment a little bit.

“You live and you learn and you move on. It came out authentic, it came out in real time. I wouldn’t have done that if I felt like I had another option or outlet. I felt like I’ve exhausted my options this season, many different occasions. It is just one of those things, I am human.

“You will see me make mistakes in real time and make things that are not always perfect. A little unprofessional for my standard, so it was unfortunate.”

The Raptors lost for the third time in four games, with VanVleet hitting just 4 of 12 shots from the floor and winding up with 13 points, nine assists and three steals.

Toronto is back in action on Friday against the host Los Angeles Lakers.