Sixers coach Brett Brown called player’s cellphone use on the bench ‘completely unacceptable’
"It is not something that we are about."
In the fourth quarter of a playoff defeat, Philadelphia 76ers forward Amir Johnson was spotted by the television broadcast using his phone on the bench.
The Sixers trailed the Brooklyn Nets by 16 points when Johnson, who was inactive for Saturday’s game, and teammate Joel Embiid were caught looking at Johnson’s phone. The Nets went on to claim Game 1 of the first-round series 111-102.
The NBA rule book prohibits the use of phones on the bench during games, and Sixers general manager Elton Brand said the organization fined Johnson an undisclosed amount for conduct detrimental to the team.
“I take full responsibility and will accept the consequences of my actions,” Johnson said in a statement. “I also apologize to my teammates, the 76ers organization and the fans for the distraction this has caused.”
📱 spotted on the Sixers bench. pic.twitter.com/1Udz19mVVD
— ESPN (@espn) April 13, 2019
Head coach Brett Brown, a Maine native who played for Boston University, addressed the incident in his postgame press conference.
“First, it’s completely unacceptable,” Brown said. “Second, we will deal with it internally very soon.”
Brown noted that he had only learned of the incident while walking down the hallway after the game.
“It is not something that we are about and I really don’t even know — I think all of us should just learn a little bit more about it than maybe certainly I do. But on first glance, it is not something that we are and certainly don’t condone and the club will deal with it.”
Embiid was asked if players are often on their phones during games.
“It never happens,” Embiid said. “Obviously, I wasn’t on my phone. I just looked down because he said that his daughter was extremely sick and he was checking on her. He was checking on his daughter. She’s sick.”
Embiid had 22 points and 15 rebounds for a listless Sixers team that heard boos on their home court. Philadelphia faces Brooklyn in Game 2 at 8 p.m. Monday.
