NBA: Johnson's comments about Simmons didn't break tampering rule

The NBA has ruled that Los Angeles Lakers president Magic Johnson's recent comments about Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons don't merit any tampering discipline.

"We have concluded that Magic Johnson's statements regarding Ben Simmons do not constitute a tampering violation," the league announced in a statement.

"The Philadelphia 76ers initiated contact with the Los Angeles Lakers by requesting a meeting between Johnson and Simmons. Both organizations ultimately concluded that such a meeting did not make sense at this time but in that context, Johnson's response to a media inquiry regarding Simmons does not run afoul of league rules."

With the Lakers in Philadelphia on Sunday to face the 76ers, Johnson told the media Simmons reached out hoping to discuss what being a "big guard" was like for him - if both teams and the league permitted, of course.

76ers general manager Elton Brand said in an interview with 97.5 The Fanatic on Monday morning that the organization rebuffed Johnson's offer "over a month ago." The Lakers reasserted that Simmons' camp made the initial contact, reportedly prompting Brand to later apologize to Johnson for his comments in the radio interview.