Bryan Colangelo resigns as 76ers president after Twitter controversy

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers say Bryan Colangelo has resigned as president of basketball operations after an independent firm investigated allegations that he used a variety of Twitter accounts to anonymously trash some of his own players and fellow executives and defend himself against criticism from fans and the sports media.

The team says Thursday that Colangelo offered his resignation “recognizing the detrimental impact this matter on the organization.”

The 76ers added in the announcement that coach Brett Brown would oversee basketball operations on an interim basis and the search for a new general manager would begin immediately.

The move came shortly after the sports website The Ringer reported about five Twitter accounts that took aim at Philadelphia players Joel Embiid and Markelle Fultz, former Sixers general manager Sam Hinkie, Toronto Raptors executive Masai Ujiri and former Sixers players Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel.

Colangelo acknowledged using one of the accounts to monitor the NBA industry and other current events but said he wasn’t familiar with the four others.