You be the Judge…(12)

On November 23, 2024, during a game between the Houston Rockets and the Portland Trail Blazers, Rockets guard Fred VanVleet was ejected in the final seconds after a heated exchange with the officiating crew. Following an offensive foul call with 4.3 seconds remaining and the Rockets trailing 103–98, VanVleet received a technical foul for arguing the decision. As he exited the court, he confronted referee John Conley, pointing his finger near Conley’s face and directing profane language toward him. Although VanVleet did not make physical contact, the NBA fined him $50,000 for “confronting and directing profane language toward the officiating staff.”    

This incident marked VanVleet’s second significant confrontation with NBA officials; in 2023, he was fined $30,000 for publicly criticizing referee Ben Taylor.