The NBA on Thursday announced that Toronto Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet will have to pay a $30,000 fine.
The reason for the penalty was the controversial comments made about league referee Ben Taylor after the Los Angeles Clippers’ loss last Wednesday.
During the game, which ended at 108-100, the California team shot 17 more free throws than the opponent. However, in the third quarter, the 29-year-old guard went to contest the refeeree’s choices. As a result, he has a technical foul.
In an interview after the match, the Raptors point guard commented on his outrage. Fred Vanvleet complained about how Taylor handled NBA games, even though he knew about the possibility of a fine.
“I don’t mind. So I pay the fine. Ben Taylor was terrible, but most nights, there’s always one of the three referees getting in the way of the game. Against Denver it was tough, of course.” Vanvleet said.
“But today, in the third quarter, I got a stupid technical foul, which changed the game. You know, I like most of them, but they’re always trying to screw everything up,” Vanvleet added.
Taylor is responsible for calling most of VanVleet’s technical fouls this season. To be exact, five of the eight he has were games the referee officiated. Therefore, he believes that he is being persecuted and that this also interferes with the fans’ entertainment.
“It all screws up the game, nobody comes to watch this shit. The fans go to the gyms because of the players. But we seem to be missing what the NBA means or meant.” Vanvleet said.
“It’s been disappointing, but most of the technical fouls I’ve taken this season have been with Ben Taylor. To some extent, the feeling is that it’s personal, but that’s not why we lost.” he added.
Vanvleet is 17th with the most technical fouls in the league as of the current season. Luka Doncic and Dillon Brooks top the list, both with 16 penalties. Under NBA rules, 16 is the limit. The Memphis Grizzlies winger, on the other hand, was banned from the game as a result.
