The news of Joe Johnson signing a 10-day contract with the Boston Celtics was well-received in the C's locker room.
Johnson, 40, joins the Celtics 20 years after he was drafted by the organization with the 10th overall pick. To put that into perspective, Jayson Tatum was only three years old when Johnson made his NBA debut.
What Celtics roster looked like with Joe Johnson in 2001
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The Celtics star grew up admiring Johnson and had a wholesome reaction when told "Iso Joe" was about to be his teammate.
"When I mentioned to Jayson [Tatum] that he was coming, he started to smile and said, 'he was one of my favorite players coming up," C's head coach Ime Udoka said Wednesday.
Udoka adds that Johnson's 17 years of NBA experience was a major factor in the decision to bring the seven-time All-Star aboard.
"Just talking to him, and some of the other coaches that've talked to him already, just that veteran, savvy, experienced presence," Udoka said. "And what he's talking about is different than talking to some young guys. That part is unique but needed at times for us."
Boston Celtics
The Celtics will host the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. ET. Johnson is expected to play and will wear No. 55.