Joe Johnson's 'fun' Celtics moment late in game vs. Cavaliers caps off 'surreal' journey back to NBA
Published: December 22, 2021 US time
Publisher: ESPN
Article by Tim Botems
Article translated by de Gaulle
Because the new crown epidemic has recently swept the NBA, many players can not appear because of the trigger of the "health and safety clauses", so the teams in order to fill the lineup, supplement the strength, have signed various "firefighters", many old faces who have left the NBA for a long time, this time have been given the opportunity to appear again, such as Isaiah Thomas, Lance Stephenson, C.J. Miles and Joe Johnson and other former celebrities, have returned to the NBA, many fans can not help but exclaim "Grandpa Qinghui".
It's been a full 20 years since Joe Johnson made his personal debut in the NBA. But even now that he's back in the NBA, he still knows how to get rid of his opponents and score points one-on-one.
Fans who have been watching the ball for a long time will definitely remember Joe Johnson and will also know his nickname of "Iso Joe". Over the past 17 years of his career, Joe Johnson has used his great technique and precise shooting to send basketballs into his opponents' baskets again and again with singles. Since the end of the 2017-18 season, Joe Johnson has left the NBA stage. But when he returns to the NBA after 3 years, he can still complete the single score in the way he is most familiar with.
The Celtics played against the Cavaliers, and in the final 1 minute and 57 seconds of the game, the Green Army had already taken a 16-point lead. The big picture was decided, head coach Udoka waved a big hand, and several Celtic players at the end of the bench walked to the sidelines, ready to come off the bench. Among them is Joe Johnson, who signed a 10-day short-term contract with the team.
By the last 23 seconds of the game, Joe Johnson was finally given the opportunity to show off his skills. Facing Justin Anderson's defense, Joe Johnson used the cover of his teammates to squeeze Anderson behind him. One step to the right of the free throw line, he moved sideways, pulling open the shooting space and steadily dropping the ball before Anderson's covered arm came over. Amid the cheers of the fans, Joe Johnson's shot was shot into the net.
"We all know what he's capable of," Celtics coach Udoka said, "and everyone walked into the dressing room after the game and everybody was saying, 'Joe shot.'" That's his personal label, and it's what he's been doing all along, and it's not going to change in the future. ”
The shot was equally meaningful to Joe Johnson himself. Over the past 24 hours, 40-year-old Joe Johnson was suddenly signed by the Celtics and then got a chance to play. As Joe Johnson stepped onto the court, he also became the second-oldest of the NBA's current active players — after the Heat's Haslem. At the same time, Joe Johnson is also the only player in the active duty to play against Michael Jordan.
In addition, Joe Johnson's return to the Celtics this time can also be regarded as a continuation of the front edge with the team. Twenty years ago, in the 2001 draft, it was the Celtics who used the No. 10 pick in their hands to pick Joe Johnson from the University of Arkansas. However, during Joe Johnson's rookie season, the Celtics traded him and sent him to the Suns. So, Joe Johnson's debut for the Celtics this time has been a full 19 years and 308 days since he wore the Celtics jersey for the last time in his rookie season. This time span naturally writes a new record in the NBA.
"To be able to be back here after 20 years is still a bit of a surreal feeling for me," Joe Johnson said after the game.
When called by the Celtics, Joe Johnson was at his home in Little Rock, Arkansas, accompanying his 14-year-old son to basketball training. Since attending the Pistons' training camp in 2019 and then being cut, Joe Johnson has broken off the idea of continuing to play in the NBA and begun to concentrate on raising his son.
Of course, he has also had the experience of playing on the field in recent years, but he has continued to sweat in amateur fields like big 3. As he grew older, Joe Johnson himself admitted that he had little hope of returning to the NBA. "I'm not saying I've given up, but I just don't have too high expectations," Joe Johnson said, "and my sons are all 14 years old, so he's the reason I'm keeping in the gym." We both trained together, and we trained relentlessly. I would always tell him, 'Keep practicing, even if you can't see where your future is for a while, you have to keep trying.' ’”
And this time, Joe Johnson used practical actions to tell his son what the meaning of persistence was. When a large number of players could not play in the NBA due to the epidemic, Joe Johnson's agent contacted him on the 21st local time to make him ready, and the Celtics may recruit him. Less than an hour later, the agent's phone rang again, this time to tell him that the flight to Boston would take off in 3 hours.
"For me, it was a decision without thinking," Joe Johnson said, "and I'm a person who is always very attentive to the maintenance of the body, and I'm in good shape right now." So, I feel like I'm ready to take on the challenge. So when my agent asked me what I thought, I immediately told him that I was ready. ”
Originally, the Celtics have recently been diagnosed with the new crown virus by many players, and the strength and morale of the squad have been hit a lot. But the addition of Joe Johnson, a veteran of both fame and experience, seems to inject a burst of doping into the team. Even Celtics home fans have frequently shouted "We're going to see Joe" in a game against the Cavaliers.
"Of course I heard them shouting," Celtics coach Udoka said, "I actually wanted to put him on the court sooner." I thought that as long as we were 12 or more points ahead, whenever I had the chance, I would change them up and feel the fun of the game. ”
In this way, Joe Johnson once again stood on the NBA after three years. But three years and 40 years of age don't seem to have left much of a mark on Joe Johnson. He has been training with his son, but he still maintains a very good physical condition. Coupled with the fact that since the eagles and nets era, it has been insisted on to the current hot yoga, all of these efforts have become the legendary continuation of Joe Johnson on the field today.
"If you ask me, I'll say he still has a lot of oil in his tank," said Jaylen Brown, who grew up in Atlanta and witnessed Joe Johnson's glory in the Eagles era, "I've seen him play in big 3 before, and I've been watching his ball since I was a kid." And now he obviously has a lot of strength. So being able to be teammates on a team with him and hear his voice and advice, I'm really happy. I think it's great. ”
Fans want to see Joe Johnson's wish come true, and the next wish is naturally to see him score a goal. So after passing a few passes for his teammates, Joe Johnson took one last chance. When his jumper hit, the cheers and atmosphere of the scene were as if he had scored a killer goal.
Commenting on his only goal of the match, Joe Johnson simply smiled and said, "Luckily, that goal was scored." ”
For the vast majority of NBA teams, as well as players infected with the new crown virus, these recent times have been very difficult. But it is also such a sudden situation that gives veterans like Joe Johnson the opportunity to continue their NBA careers. Although after a while, when the Celtics lineup is complete, Joe Johnson will leave the NBA again, but such a dreamlike experience has added a very interesting stroke to his already brilliant career.
"It's still a little surreal to hear the fans shout my name," Joe Johnson said, "and it's funny to come back and get the win and the chance to play." At my age, man, all you have to do is enjoy every moment, enjoy the course of life, and allow yourself to live in the moment. And that's what I'm doing right now, I'm just living in the moment. interesting! ”