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Watch: Fred VanVleet destroys ref in profanity-laced tirade
Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Raptors' Fred VanVleet destroys referee in postgame profanity-laced tirade

By Victor Barbosa  |  Last updated 3/9/23

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet blasted NBA officiating Wednesday night -- singling out referee Ben Taylor -- following the team's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

The display was filled with profanity and to say VanVleet was candid would perhaps qualify as the understatement of the year. The one-time All-Star began his comments by saying "I don't mind, I'll take a fine, I don't really care," referring to the no doubt upcoming pile of cash he'll have coming out of his pockets due to the criticism.

VanVleet went off of on the 37-year-old official immediately, saying Taylor was "f***ing terrible tonight." The Wichita State finished Wednesday's loss with four personal fouls and told reporters that he picked up a "bulls***" technical foul in the third quarter, a frame that saw the Clippers outscore the Raptors 34-25.

At a couple of points, VanVleet temporarily eased up, saying "most of the refs are trying hard," that he likes a lot of them, they're "pretty fair" and "communicate well." Then the seventh-year pro said there are others who "just want to be d***s."

Though the foul discrepancy between Toronto (23) and Los Angeles (18) was relatively close, the Clippers had 31 free throw attempts compared to only 14 for the Raptors.

Wednesday was the second straight game where Toronto was called for a second-half technical, after Scottie Barnes was hit with a "t" by Scott Foster during the team's loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday. Barnes was later ejected by Foster with 28 seconds left in the fourth quarter and Toronto trailing by just one point.

The official explained in the postgame pool report that the reigning Rookie of the Year was sent packing on his technical foul because "he used verbiage that which directly questioned the integrity of the crew."

As for VanVleet, three of his eight technical fouls this season have come from Taylor, per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk.

"At a certain point as a player, you feel it's personal and it's never a good place to be," VanVleet said.

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