The Boston Celtics provided a blast from the past this week when they signed NBA veteran Joe Johnson to a 10-day contract. Johnson is one of the players that the Celtics added to help overcome their decimated roster that has been hit by positive COVID-19 tests.
Johnson was originally selected by the Celtics in the first round, No. 10 overall in the 2001 NBA Draft. He didn’t last long with the Celtics, as he was traded just a few months into his rookie season and has set an NBA record as a result.
Johnson went 19 years and 308 days between suiting up for the same team, crushing the previous record of 14 years and 331 days by James Edwards with the Los Angeles Lakers.
“It’s amazing to be back here 20 years later,” Johnson said. “It’s still surreal to me.”
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Johnson has not played in an NBA game since 2018, as he was cut by the Detroit Pistons during training camp that year. He has since been seen playing in the AmeriCup for Team USA in February and dominating the BIG3, showcasing that his nickname, Iso Joe, is still apt.
The seven-time All-Star admitted that he didn’t think he was going to get another chance in the NBA, but was ready should the opportunity arise. He works out a lot with his son, who is 14-years old and plays high school basketball in Arkansas.
“I wouldn’t say give up, but I didn’t have high hopes,” Johnson said. “My son’s 14, so he keeps me in the gym. We work and work and work, and I always talk to him [and say], ‘Just work. Even when you can’t see what’s next, you just gotta continue to work.'”
It was a whirlwind for JoeJohnson, who was alerted of a possible opportunity by his agent. Hours later, he was set to board a flight to Boston to suit up once again for the Celtics.
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Despite not having the highest hopes for a return, Joe Johnson remains ready, which could have been part of the reason as to why the Celtics signed him.
“It was a no-brainer for me,” Johnson said. “I’m a guy who really takes care of his body. I’m in pretty good shape. So I felt like I was ready to take on that challenge.
“So [my agent] asked me what I thought, and we just kept moving. I’m ready for whatever comes my way.”
The moment certainly didn’t seem too big for Johnson, who eventually checked into the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers with 1:57 remaining in the game. After a few possessions of deferring to teammates, we saw a vintage Johnson play as he got to his spot after a pick-and-roll and sunk a mid-range jumper.
“This is a pick-and-roll league,” Johnson said. “Once you can master the pick-and-roll and get to your spots — especially your sweet spots — it’s hard to stop guys like that. Especially when you can make plays out of that. I never lose sight of that or lost sight of that. Just from watching the game, I see how they play in the pick-and-roll. If I’m in the pick-and-roll, you either gotta live or you’re going to have the midrange game or the floater.
“Luckily,” he added with a laugh, “it went down.”
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While Joe Johnson has made plenty of jumpers in his life, that is probably one that he will cherish forever. Getting another chance to play in the NBA, no matter how brief it may be, is something he, like plenty of other veterans getting another chance, isn’t going to take for granted.
