Boston Celtics guard Joe Johnson. (David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)
Joe Johnson’s long NBA career came full-circle on Wednesday when he suited up for the Celtics and hit his first shot attempt.
If you had “Joe Johnson scoring a bucket for the Celtics in 2021” on your NBA bingo card then congratulations, you’re a winner.
The 40-year-old who was drafted by the Celtics and made his name with the Hawks subbed into Boston’s 111-101 victory over the Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
It was the first NBA appearance for Johnson since May 28, 2018. He made it look like he’d never left.
Joe Johnson brought out to old tricks in his Celtics return.
Johnson finished with that one made shot in two minutes of action.
This unlikely opportunity came around because of the NBA’s current COVID crisis. Johnson was signed to a 10-day contract to help fill out the Celtics roster.
Bringing him back has him coming full circle. The team drafted him No. 10 overall in 2001 but they shipped him off to Phoenix soon after in a trade for role players. Since Johnson went on to become a seven-time All-Star with the Hawks, that was considered a pretty heft blunder.
Johnson made his NBA debut on Oct. 30, 2001 which means he’s been in the league longer than some current NBA players have been alive. That doesn’t apply to anyone for the Celtics or Cavaliers but it was close. Cleveland rookie Evan Mobley was born eight days before Boston drafted Johnson.