Ivan Johnson sent home by Hawks

Ivan Johnson missed Friday’s game in Orlando after he was sent back to Atlanta for conduct detrimental to the team and fined an undisclosed amount. The forward was involved in a verbal altercation on the bench during Wednesday’s overtime loss to the Celtics, according to a person familiar with the decision. He accompanied the team to Orlando before returning to Atlanta. Johnson will re-join the team for Saturday’s scheduled practice.

Hawks coach Larry Drew declined to give a reason for the disciplinary action and said “we are moving on.”

Johnson, a 27-year-old NBA rookie, has had issues in the past. He washed out after one season at Oregon after run-ins with his coach. After one year at Division II Cal State-San Bernardino, Johnson played a season in the NBA Development League. He then played in the Korean Basketball League, but was banned for reportedly making an obscene gesture at a game official. Back in the D-League, he was named first-team all-league, but volatile enough to lead the league in technical fouls. Johnson’s coach with the Erie BayHawks eventually benched him for his behavior.

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