Brown hung up on 76ers cell bust: ‘Unacceptable’
PHILADELPHIA — Amir Johnson was busted showing Philadelphia 76ers All-Star teammate Joel Embiid his cellphone on the bench late in a Game 1 playoff loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
Johnson was caught by TV cameras sitting on the bench and scrolling through his phone late in the fourth quarter and the Sixers down 16 points in an eventual 111-102 loss. Johnson showed Embiid whatever message was on the phone and then slid it into the pocket of his warmups.
“I just looked down because he said his daughter was extremely sick and he was checking on her,” Embiid said.
The NBA Operations Manual bans the use of cellular phones on the bench during games. The rule book, under the “Use of Technology” section, says violations will “result in substantial fines and/or suspensions.”
Johnson did not talk to reporters after the game.
“Completely unacceptable,” Sixers coach Brett Brown said of Johnson’s actions. “It’s not something that we are about.”
When asked about why Amir Johnson was on his phone on the bench, Joel Embiid comments that he was checking on his daughter because she is very ill.
Brown said he would deal with Johnson, but he declined to address any specific discipline.
Johnson was inactive. Embiid, who was listed as doubtful heading into the game, started and had 22 points and 15 rebounds.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.