Elton Brand called Magic Johnson to apologize for insinuating the Los Angeles Lakers called unprompted to receive permission for Johnson to speak with Ben Simmons.
In the interview with 97.5 The Fanatic on Monday morning, Brand said, "[Lakers GM] Rob Pelinka called me and said that Ben wanted to talk to Hall of Famers after the season; Magic was on the list. He asked for authorization ... I said no."
Brand didn't mention that someone from the 76ers contacted Pelinka first at the urging of one of Simmons' brothers.
The Lakers issued a statement later Monday that read: "To clarify, last November the 76ers sent an email to the Lakers asking if Ben Simmons would be able to speak with Magic Johnson about his Hall of Fame playing career. After receiving the email request from the 76ers, Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka contacted 76ers General Manager Elton Brand and informed him that Magic could only do so if the 76ers gave him pre-written approval. That was the end of the matter."
Brand told ESPN earlier Monday that Simmons simply wanted the Sixers to help him facilitate "chatting with some of the game's all-time greats."
"No issue," Brand told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. "I have a great relationship with Ben and [his agent] Rich [Paul] and we expect him to be a Sixer for a long time. He has taken interest in chatting with some of the game's all-time greats and we're supportive.
"I had brief dialogue with Rob Pelinka, who I've known for a long time, but nothing is planned. Our collective focus is on making a postseason push. Again, we're not sweating this -- end of story."
