NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – AUGUST 25: Joe Johnson #1 of the Triplets looks on during the BIG3 Playoffs at Smoothie King Center on August 25, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/BIG3 via Getty Images)
Joe Johnson will play in the BIG3 championship game this weekend, but he’s getting attention that could lead to a return to the NBA.
Joe Johnson did not play in the NBA last season, as the scoring prowess that gave him his “Iso Joe” nickname dwindled with age. But he has gotten a second basketball life in the BIG3 this summer, with a starring run in that league.
According to Marc J. Spears of ESPN, Johnson will work out for the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday. Spears also mentioned the Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets as workouts Johnson is expected to have, with the New Orleans Pelicans later added to the list of teams with interest.
Johnson has averaged 21.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game for The Triplets in the BIG3. He was voted league MVP earlier this week, to no one’s surprise.
Johnson also clinched his team’s spot in this weekend’s league championship game with a clutch shot.
Johnson split the 2017-18 NBA season between the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets, averaging 6.8 points, 3.1 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game in 55 appearances. In 17 NBA seasons, he’s got a career average of 16.0 points per game and has earned seven All-Star selections.
Brian Scalabrine also played in the BIG3 this year. He has gone so far as to guarantee Johnson will play in the NBA this coming season.
The teams with reported interested in Johnson are in a position to take a flier, as playoff-caliber squads with the key pieces of their rotation set and not a lot of cap space to play with. Either way, the 38-year-old should get a chance to earn a roster spot in someone’s preseason camp.
With over $220 million in career salary, a minimum deal with a legit opportunity to win an NBA title should be fine for Johnson.