Ben Taylor Appears to Have Been Demoted by NBA Since Being Called Out by Fred VanVleet

NBA referee Ben Taylor appears to have been demoted ever since Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet called him out earlier this month

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Ben Taylor seems to have been demoted ever seen Fred VanVleet singled out the 10-year NBA referee for failing to meet the league's standard earlier this month.

Prior to VanVleet's call out, Taylor had been the crew chief in each of his previous 12 games including the March 8 game between the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers that led to VanVleet's now infamous rant. Only twice this season had Taylor been the second referee, working once alongside David Guthrie and later alongside Tony Brothers, two of the league's most seasoned referees.

Since VanVleet's comments, Taylor has been the crew chief in just two of his last six assignments, according to Tom Haberstroh of the Basketball Illuminati. 

VanVleet had said he thought Taylor's officiating had become personal as he'd received a disproportionate number of technicals either from Taylor or in games in which Taylor was officiating. Of VanVleet's eight technicals this season, three had been called by Taylor.

“I thought Ben Taylor was f***ing terrible tonight," VanVleet said following Toronto's loss to the Clippers earlier this month. "On most nights, out of the 3, there’s 1 or 2 that f*** the game up."

Taylor has officiated the Raptors once since VanVleet made his comments, working alongside Eric Lewis as the secondary referee on March 16 in Toronto.

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