NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 15: Earvin "Magic" Johnson attends the celebration of best-selling author of "Aiming High" Darren Prince with DuJour Media's Jason Binn and NBA legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson on November 15, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for DuJour Media)It seems like every day now there is another story about alleged tampering in the NBA. Today, the league ruled on the recent statements by Magic Johnson about Ben Simmons.
According to a statement from the NBA, Johnson was found not to have tampered with the Philadelphia 76ers’ young star. The Los Angeles Lakers President had said on Sunday Simmons apparently wanted to meet with him during the offseason to discuss “big guard tips.”
The potential meeting of these two to talk shop isn’t going to happen, as the NBA’s statement conveys. However, Johnson’s comments were within the league rules.
He will not be punished.
NBA concludes no tampering in Lakers-Sixers/Magic-Simmons situation. pic.twitter.com/SrVtTVqvYi
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) February 12, 2019
Just yesterday, the NBA fined Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry for his comments on New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis. Lasry was penalized $25,000 for tampering.
Of course, there is tampering going on, but it is all happening behind-the-scenes. Backdoor communications involving players, agents and team executives are definitely happening.
The NBA doesn’t really want you to talk about it, but it is tacitly condoned.
