Seven-time NBA All-Star Joe Johnson signed a 10-day contract with the Boston Celtics — the team that drafted him 20 years ago — on Wednesday morning, at the age of 40. Johnson’s last game in the NBA was in 2018 with the Houston Rockets (specifically Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals).
The Celtics traded rookie Joe Johnson on February 20, 2002.
The 19 year, 305 day gap between his stints with the Celtics is not only the longest in NBA history, it’s longer than the entire career of every NBA player but five (Carter, Parish, Garnett, Willis, Nowitzki).
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) December 22, 2021
Well, the Celtics had a game on Wednesday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and they got Johnson into the game while leading by 16 with under two minutes to go. The crowd at TD Garden went crazy as Johnson checked into the game.
Standing ovation for Joe Johnson as he enters the game for the #Celtics 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/loqQQf7aMB
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 23, 2021
And in the final 30 seconds, Johnson showed why he earned the nickname “Iso Joe” to sink his only shot attempt in the game.
ISO JOE!!! 😃😃😃 pic.twitter.com/WK3GoE7a4b
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 23, 2021
Celtics star Jaylen Brown — who had a game-high 34 points — played with Johnson over the summer, and said that Johnson has “still got a lot in the tank.”
Jaylen Brown discusses playing with Joe Johnson this past summer: "He's still got a lot in the tank if you ask me." pic.twitter.com/E937dv3aG1
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 23, 2021
It certainly looked like the usual Joe Johnson for one possession, at least.
