Fred VanVleet, aka "Rockford's finest".
He unquestionably ranks among the most polarizing figures within the Toronto Raptors community. For some fans, he represents an incredible journey, evolving from an undrafted afterthought into an NBA champion and All-Star—someone who demonstrated a willingness to put his body on the line for the team.
Conversely, others emphasize VanVleet's inconsistencies, perceiving him as a reckless shot-chucker who lacks clutch qualities in critical moments, which has gradually tarnished his image.
Regardless of one’s stance on Fred VanVleet, one thing is certain about his character: he is outspoken, particularly when it comes to officiating and what he perceives as a lack of balanced impartiality.
Fred VanVleet is no stranger to calling out NBA refs
This became a pivotal aspect of VanVleet's tenure with the Toronto Raptors, highlighted by a significant event in March 2023 when he publicly called out NBA staff official Ben Taylor.
VanVleet would take to the post-game media scrum to place the referee—and NBA officiating as a whole—under expletive scrutiny.
"I don't mind, I'll take a fine, I don't really care. I thought Ben Taylor was f***ing terrible tonight. I think that on most nights, you know out of the three [officials], there's one or two that just f**k the game up. It's been like that a couple of games in a row."Fred VanVleet, March 2023
His bold actions sparked considerable conversation on social media and undoubtedly caught the attention of league executives, leading to the NBA's decision to demote Ben Taylor from his role as a lead official in the games that followed VanVleet's rant.
Fast forward over a year, and Ben Taylor's name is once again in the spotlight, highlighted by none other than Fred VanVleet, now playing for the Houston Rockets. Except in an odd turn of events, VanVleet's primary NBA rival has been cast in a different light after the point guard delivered a standout performance, scoring 38 points in a win against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
In a postgame interview with the media, VanVleet stated the following:
"I thought the refs were amazing tonight. I love to give them credit when they're good. Shoutout to Ben Taylor, man. He reffed an incredible game tonight."Fred VanVleet, December 2024
Calling out officials in any sport can lead to trouble, regardless of your level of playing experience or athletic expertise. For Fred VanVleet, whether during his time with Toronto or now with Houston, there’s no doubt he is willing to challenge NBA officials when things aren't going his way. However, it is certainly peculiar to see him shift from bold stances to positive ones if the results are reversed.
One night, he’s yelling and ready to come to blows with officials, and the next, he’s tipping his hat to them. It wasn't all that long ago, on November 25, that VanVleet was fined $50,000 following a profane and confrontational tirade toward NBA officiating staff.
The point is that the relationship between league officials and Fred VanVleet will always be topsy-turvy. Whether you consider it unprofessional and biased on either side is open to debate.