Joe Johnson is coming off another phenomenal season in the Big 3 league, winning MVP honors for the second time. As the 2021-’22 NBA season draws closer, the former All-Star hasn’t closed the door on a return.
Johnson, age 40, has led the Triplets to a 6-2 record and carried them into the Big 3 playoffs. With a pair of MVP awards and a championship on his Big 3 resume, the 6-foot-7 forward is thinking about even bigger and better things to prolong his basketball career.
In a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Johnson made it clear he isn’t done playing basketball and he remains interested in returning to the NBA.
No, I’m not done. We’ll see what happens here … We’ll see, man. We’ll see. I don’t have nothing definite to tell you, to be honest with you. But, I’mma be out here to try to get things done.”
Joe Johnson to TMZ on potential NBA return
Entering training camp, Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem is the oldest active player in the NBA at 41 years old. He is the only current player still playing in his 40s, with Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (37) and Carmelo Anthony (37) the next eldest players.
- Joe Johnson career stats: 16 ppg, 3.9 apg, 44.1% from the field, 37.1% from the 3-point line
Johnson last signed an NBA contract in 2019, when the Detroit Pistons signed him in September. But he only last a month with the franchise, being waved before final cuts were made.
The No. 10 pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, Johnson thrived during his prime. After struggling with the Phoenix Suns, he became a household name with the Atlanta Hawks. Across seven seasons in Atlanta, he made the NBA All-Star Game six times and later earned an appearance with the Brooklyn Nets.
Considering Johnson last played in an NBA game on May 28, 2018, it’s unlikely another team is willing to give him a shot. But if the 40-year-old wants to keep playing basketball, it’s clear he can dominate the Big 3 for several more years.