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.
