The Golden State Warriors played against the Houston Rockets on Sunday, yet the Los Angeles Lakers still became a focal point during the local broadcast. With 4:33 left in the third quarter, Rockets guard Fred VanVleet was called for a personal foul, resulting in a brief game interruption. This prompted NBC Sports Bay Area’s Bob Fitzgerald to emphasize the significance of officiating, referencing the upcoming matchup between the Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder as a case in point.
“One thing — we can talk about it, fans can talk about it — when you get into the playoffs, officiating matters,” Fitzgerald explained. “The Lakers went into Oklahoma City and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did not shoot a single free throw. In a home game, for a guy who averages 11 free throws per game. Meanwhile, tonight, Draymond Green’s fouls will certainly influence the outcome of this game, and apparently, shooting a layup is now considered a windup.”
Warriors announcer Bob Fitzgerald implying SGA not getting free throws vs Lakers was evidence of bad or biased officiating.
(No mention of Lebron not getting free throws, or Luka & Austin combining for 6 total) pic.twitter.com/YKY9gtCd8h
— Dr. Lös Real Polyamorous Tantric Sex Guru (@LosRealAli) April 7, 2025
While Fitzgerald didn’t explicitly accuse the officials of favoring the Lakers, the implication was there. It’s notable that Los Angeles ranks fifth in the NBA in free throw attempts per game (23.1) and has the fifth fewest personal fouls (17.3) called against them this season. However, such numbers alone do not confirm any bias, as some teams are simply more adept at drawing fouls and avoiding fouls. This season, the Lakers have excelled in both areas, and their big market status, along with stars like LeBron James and Luka Dončić, adds to the perception of getting favorable calls on both ends of the court.
Fitzgerald is not alone in his criticism of NBA officiating; he joins notable figures like Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and TNT’s Charles Barkley. His perspective starkly contrasts with Skip Bayless, who previously suggested that the Lakers are not given enough calls due to officials wanting to avoid embarrassing LeBron by frequently sending him to the free throw line.
