Joe Johnson is excited to resume his NBA career in the same place it started 20 years ago, writes Patrick McAvoy of NESN. After three years out of the league, Johnson signed a 10-day contract with the Celtics, who selected him with the 10th pick in the 2001 draft. Johnson only played 48 games in Boston before being traded to the Suns, but he says it has a feeling of home.
“Man, I’m just going to enjoy the moment. It’s almost like a familiar place but I was only here for about six months my rookie year and I got traded,” Johnson said. “But you know it’s fun, there’s still a lot of familiar faces out there for the organization and I was surprised to see. It’s good to see some familiar faces and good to be in a familiar place.”
Johnson told reporters he wasn’t ready to play 5-on-5 basketball last year, but he spent the past 12 months working on conditioning, tweets Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. Johnson was spending time with his daughter on Tuesday when his agent called and said the Celtics might be interested, adds Jay King of The Athletic (Twitter link). The agent called back 30 or 40 minutes later and told him to get on a plane.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Dennis Schröder will represent the first major trade deadline decision for new Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, King states in a full story. Schröder has been productive in his first season with the team, averaging 16.8 points and 4.7 assists per game, but he’s on a one-year bargain contract and Boston will be limited to an offer beginning at about $7MM this summer. King notes that Schröder also takes playing time away from Payton Pritchard, who is among the team’s best shooters.
- The COVID-19 outbreak that has strained the Nets‘ roster gave Blake Griffin a chance to revive his season, per Mark W. Sanchez of The New York Post. Griffin was out of the rotation when the virus hit, but with only eight active players he logged a season-high 32 minutes Saturday night. He has played better since returning to the lineup five games ago and could see regular minutes once the roster is back to normal. “Blake’s played great,” coach Steve Nash said. “Like I’ve said to him, we know there’s always something around the corner, so although he was out of the rotation for a little while, we knew something would happen and he’d get his opportunity again, and he’s a pro. Worked his butt off, stayed in shape, found a rhythm. He’s playing good basketball.”
- The Knicks, who have also been decimated by the virus, got good news today with Obi Toppin clearing health and safety protocols, the team announced (Twitter link).
1 surefire way to tell if someone is a casual basketball fan compared to someone who has a deeper knowledge of the game is how much respect they have for Joe Johnson. Same goes for Ben Simmons more recently & Paul Pressey back in the day. If a guy shows a lack of respect/reverence for these great players it’s impossible for me to take anything they say about basketball seriously
Yep… Paul Pressey is always the barometer towards if you’re knowledgeable or merely casual. Always has been. Everyone knows this!
While we’re at it… who’s the better MIL Buck… Pressey or Middleton?
I value versatility so I’d rather have Pressey on my team personally but Middleton is a pure scorer & a big reason Mil won their 1st title in a half century so it’s hard to pick against him but I take Pressey. As much as I respect Middleton I probably take Ray Allen & Redd over him too. Middleton has a chance (much like the aforementioned Joe Johnson) to be inducted into the HOF one day tho if he keeps producing (& winning) like he has the past 5yrs
Another way is to see if you think the Hawks are going to be a dynasty.
Sankara.., Oh my goodness this is going to be embarrassing. At 40 years old? Guys will blow by him easily. Have you ever seen a statue play defense? Tune in the next couple Celtics games LOL.
And before someone says Vince Carter played at forty, remember that Vince Carter was one of the most athletic players in the history of the game. As he aged he came back to Earth and could hold his own with other regular athletic guys. Joe Johnson not so much. Kind of an upright, back a guy down, shoot a little fade, his whole career.
The only thing that shoots a hole in my assertion is that he was the final cut for the Detroit Pistons just a couple years ago. Maybe he can still play a little? We shall see. Just my opinion and I’m sure you’re going to attack it even though it’s just an opinion. You have yours, I have mine. I see you have watched basketball many years, don’t ask me if “I’ve ever seen Joe Johnson play basketball.”
By the way I loved Paul pressey and the Bucks back in the day. The first real point forward because he couldn’t shoot well but he could defend and he could run the offense.
Kind of a Draymond Green before Draymond Green and almost the same size but not as strong of course. Pressy 6-5, Green 6-6. And isn’t it noteworthy that just one inch and some strength causes a guy to have the ability to guard centers, whereas there’s no way Paul Pressey could guard a Center. Interesting.
Haha, Joe Johnson is a chump. Dude is soft and scared. Him and DWill showed their true colors in Brooklyn. Get out of here with that trash.
“On February 20th, 2002, the Boston Celtics traded guard-forward Joe Johnson, guard Randy Brown, guard Milt Palacio and a 2002 1st round draft pick (Casey Jacobsen) to the Phoenix Suns for guard Tony Delk and forward Rodney Rogers.“
link to nbatrades.tumblr.com
Had to look up the trade that sent him to Suns. Had forgotten he was actually drafted by Celtics. At 40 he can still help the Celtics.
That Suns team was legendary. Even though they never even won the West.
This is sorta what I mean lol. No disrespect but it tells me a lot about a guys relationship with the NBA & basketball history in general when they don’t know about the Joe for Rodney Rogers trade in 02. That trade was BIG then & had long lasting effects on both conferences throughout the 2000s. Rogers helped Boston reach the ECF that yr but Joe obviously blossomed into 1 of the best guards in the league in Phoenix. Playing with Nash & Amar’e was definitely a better fit than playing with Paul Pierce & Toine but Joe would have been a beast anywhere tbh. Definitely agree that he could help Boston this season tho & that Phoenix was a great team with Nash/Joe/Q/Amar’e/etc
The NBA & and basketball history in general have filed a restraining order against you. They felt like you were getting a little too close.
I’m sure this sounded better & made more sense in your head than it actually reads here. Good try I guess? But try harder
It’s going to be good to see Obi1 back. Looking forward to Christmas games.
Might actually be the veteran presence the C’s sorely miss