Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic goes nuclear on NBA officiating in rant after Lakers game

After their heartbreaking 132-131 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic unleashed a storm of fury on NBA officiating, which he called “complete BS”.

Rajakovic was specifically angry about the lack of free throw attempts for his team compared to the Lakers. In the fourth quarter of the game, the Lakers attempted 23 free throws, to Toronto’s two. Rajakovic called it a “shame” that the NBA would allow this to happen, and specifically said, “did they have to win tonight? If so just let us know and we won’t show up to the game. Just give them the win.”

Where the officiating began to take a turn was when Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley was given a flagrant foul for this call against Cam Reddish. The Raptors were visibly frustrated and believed that this was a bad call. Quickley was given his sixth foul and disqualified from the game.

Quickley visibly showed his disgust at another call, one where he fouled Anthony Davis:

The Raptors were already playing without center Jakob Poetl, who didn’t dress for this game, so in the late moments Scottie Barnes played center. This small ball could’ve attributed to the amount of free throw attempts that the Lakers received, but Rajakovic and Raptors fans weren’t having it.

Even the Lakers’ broadcast had enough of the ref crew and their fourth quarter antics.

If you’re wondering who that Ben Taylor guy is, he’s the head ref from the Lakers-Raptors game. He’s previously had his issues with the Raptors, specifically last year when then-Raptors guard Fred VanVleet got angry at his officiating. Taylor was demoted after that, but it’s unsure what’ll happen to Taylor today.

Rajakovic has every right to be upset, especially with the disparity in calls between the Lakers and Raptors. What’ll be interesting is to see how quickly and how much the fine is for Rajakovic blasting the officiating crew.