‘Serious’ Colangelo allegations are under investigation
PHILADELPHIA » Sixers president and general manager Bryan Colangelo may have used Twitter “burner” fakenamed accounts to criticize players and other NBA executives.
Whether that is accurate or not, the organization believes it to be a “serious” enough situation to open an independent investigation.
“An online media outlet filed a story linking multiple social media accounts to 76ers President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo,” the Sixers said in a statement Wednesday. “The allegations are serious and we have commenced an independent investigation into the matter. We will report the results of that investigation as soon as it is concluded.”
The investigation was inspired by a report on the sports and pop culture website “The Ringer” in which Colangelo was accused of attempting to manipulate news and opinion with the use of up to five rogue Twitter accounts.
To The Ringer, Colangelo issued this denial: “Like many of my colleagues in sports, I have used social media as a means to keep up with the news. While I have never posted anything whatsoever on social media, I have used the @Phila1234567 Twitter account referenced in this story to monitor our industry and other current events. This storyline is disturbing to me on many levels, as I am not familiar with any of the other accounts that have been brought to my attention, nor do I know who is behind them or what their motives may be in using them.”
Among the players allegedly criticized by Colangelo was Joel Embiid. On one of the accounts alleged to be tied to Colangelo, it was said that Embiid “was like a toddler having tantrums.” On another, Sixers guard Markelle Fultz was criticized.
Embiid, 24, at first had fun Tweeting about the story Tuesday night. But he indicated subsequently that he wasn’t on board with the allegations, writing, “All jokes aside, I don’t believe the story. That would just be insane.”
“The allegations are serious and we have commenced an independent investigation into the matter. We will report the results of that investigation as soon as it is concluded.” — Statement from the Sixers on Colangelo the allegations against GM Bryan
Among those slammed in the rogue accounts were Sam Hinkie, Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor. Formerly with the Raptors, Colangelo also allegedly ripped Toronto GM Masai Ujiri.
The Associated Press, citing an anonymous source familiar with the team’s investigation, reported Wednesday that the Sixers had at least 20 impostor accounts shut down during the season with people pretending to be Colangelo.
Yet if the investigation shows that Colangelo is connected at all to the accounts, it would figure that the organization’s recently restored reputation would take a significant hit. It could play a part in the club’s efforts to sign free agents, most James.
Colangelo is the son of longtime sports executive Jerry Colangelo. He was hired by the Sixers in 2016 after “Process” creator Hinkie abruptly resigned.
Colangelo previously served as Raptors general manager. He lost his job there after Toronto missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, and Ujiri took over basketball operations.
According to The Ringer, one of the phony Twitter accounts tweeted suggestions that Colangelo had more to do with the team’s turnaround than Hinkie did.
“BC has done nothing but clean up hinkie’s mess,” the Jan. 2017 tweet read. And notably LeBron on another: “Bc not a bad guy.”
*** At the conclusion of the Sixers’ season, Colangelo indicated a desire to extend Brett Brown’s contract, which would have expired after the 2018-2019 season.
According to multiple reports, that extension will be good for three years.
While the Sixers did not confirm that report and did not plan to make any announcements Wednesday, it is clear they have Brown in their longer-term plans. The Sixers won 52 regularseason games last season, a 24-game improvement over 2016-2017. is class act