Old stars returning to the NBA court amid the spread of COVID-19

Old stars returning to the NBA court amid the spread of COVID-19

Old stars are returning to NBA due to the spread of COVID-19.

The Boston Celtics said on the 23rd (Korea Standard Time), “Veteran Joe Johnson will return to Boston. “We signed a ten-day contract,” he said.

Johnson is a veteran who made his debut in the 2001-2002 season and went through Boston, Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets. He was selected for the All-Star seven times and recorded 24,405 points (49th place in history). Boston is the team that nominated Johnson as the 10th overall rookie draft in 2001.

Johnson left the NBA after Game 7 of the Western Conference Final in the 2017-2018 season. He tried to return to the NBA through the Detroit Pistons in the summer of 2019, but was released before the start of the season. Since then, he has continued his relationship with basketball through 3-3.

NBA is groaning from the recent spread of COVID-19. More than 100 players have entered the application of the Corona protocol. NBA is pushing ahead with the season by recruiting substitute players instead of suspending the season. Alternative players are not subject to salary caps or luxury taxes.

This is why Johnson was able to return to the NBA with a ten-day contract.

Johnson said, “I didn’t give up, but I didn’t expect much,” adding, “It was an easy choice. I’m a person who takes really good care of my body. I’m in good shape, too. I’m ready to try again. “The agent asked me what I thought, and I said I was ready.”

According to ESPN, Boston plans to put Johnson on the court in the absence of existing players due to COVID-19 or foul trouble.

Prior to Johnson, Isaac Thomas and Lance Stevenson also returned to the NBA.

Thomas, a 175cm short guard, signed a ten-day contract with the LA Lakers on the 17th. Thomas, who enjoyed his heyday with an average of 28.9 points in Boston in the 2016-2017 season, has not been on the NBA court since playing two games for the New Orleans Pelicants last season. However, he made a comeback to NBA with a series of COVID-19 confirmed and injured cases in the LA Lakers, and has scored an average of 11.7 points in three games.

Stevenson wore an Atlanta Hawks uniform on the 22nd. As expected, a ten-day contract. Stevenson played for the LA Lakers in the 2018-2019 season and played in the Chinese stage and the G League.