To some extent, NBA players have become accustomed to being on the receiving end of harsh words from fans. While this is typically within the confines of an arena, being caught off guard in public settings isn’t surprising either. However, Fred VanVleet‘s story of being confronted by a fan in church is certainly an outlier.
During an appearance on the “Club 520” podcast, Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet revealed that a fan approached him in a church and blamed him for losing a $3,000 parlay.
“It’s the ‘in person’ one you’ve got to be careful for,” stated VanVleet. “I had somebody run down on me in church. ‘N***a, you f***ed up my parlay.’ In church. I said, ‘Damn.’ $3,000. It was some youngin’. I couldn’t believe it. It’s real out here.”
While the circumstances of the bet itself are not known, it is abundantly clear that the situation in which the fan confronted Fred VanVleet was far from appropriate. Given that the Rockets guard was also completely unaware of the context, it is easy to say that he had no means of necessarily addressing the matter.
Unfortunately, Fred VanVleet’s ridiculous interaction isn’t the first time a fan has aggressively approached an NBA player for coming up short on a bet.
Earlier in the season, Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine got into a heated argument with a fan at a game over a lost bet. The fan was reportedly escorted out of the arena after matters escalated, highlighting the sheer severity of the exchange.
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero also found himself in a similar situation when a fan asked him to score two more points to secure a win. In a hilarious response, Banchero called out the fan’s addiction to gambling, noting that it was only a preseason game.
The rapid growth of the sports betting vertical in the NBA has had a drastic impact on how fans view games and players. Some superstars have been vocal about expressing how players aren’t liable for bets made by fans. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a significant change in fan behavior, as many on social media continue to call out star players for their shortcomings.
On a more concerning note, this new era of gambling has also resulted in players coming under scrutiny for every move they make, facing severe consequences for violating the codes of conduct.
Players like Terry Rozier and Malik Beasley have been under federal investigation for the better part of the last year. Meanwhile, a player like Jontay Porter, who violated the league’s gambling policy, received a lifetime ban and could even face prison time.
In comparison, Fred VanVleet’s interaction seems rather tame. Still, the current state of affairs has brought the ethical fabric that defines the NBA into question.
