From the Rio Grande Valley to Beantown, Boston’s D-League signee has impressed both his teammates and his coach.
In 2007, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen stunned the basketball world by making the bold decision to join forces, take less pay, and pursue championships in Boston. The three stars, known as “The Big Three” throughout their time in Boston, accomplished their goal by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals. The trio made another finals appearance in 2010, but the Lakers would exact their revenge and defeat the Celtics in seven games. Boston’s last significant playoff run with their core of future hall-of-famers came in 2012, when the Miami Heat’s big three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, beat the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals in seven games.
After being bounced out of the playoffs in the first round by the New York Knicks in 2013, Celtics fans, players, and management knew that it was time to move on. Allen had left the team the previous offseason to sign with Miami and Pierce and Garnett were on their last legs. Head Coach Doc Rivers was sent to the Los Angeles Clippers and point guard Rajon Rondo became the new focal point of the franchise moving forward. Moreover, the Celtics completely blew up their roster after agreeing to trade Garnett, Pierce, Jason Terry, and D.J. White to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, Keith Bogans, Kris Joseph, MarShon Brooks, and multiple draft picks. With a clean slate, the Celtics replaced Rivers with Butler coach Brad Stevens.
With Stevens at the helm and Rondo running the point, the Celtics are 19-34 this season. In what figures to be a short rebuilding process, young standouts such as Jared Sullinger and Avery Bradley have led the charge while Rondo eases his way back after recovering from a torn ACL. The Celtics drafted center Kelly Olynyk in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft, and the big man from Gonzaga figures to be in Boston’s long-term plans as well. The Celtics’ most significant move, however, came less than a month ago, when the team decided to sign D-League forward Chris Johnson, my unsung hero of the week, to a 10-day contract.
Expectations for D-League players entering the NBA are typically low, but Johnson has been no slouch during his short time in Boston. The 23-year-old from Dayton is shooting 44.6% from the field (46.3% from beyond the arc!) while averaging 7.7 PPG in 21.1 MPG. Johnson had a solid performance in his season debut against the Miami Heat and recently put up 14 points in 15 minutes against the Dallas Mavericks. After signing two consecutive 10-day contracts with the Celtics, Johnson was ultimately rewarded a few days ago when the team decided to not only sign him for the remainder of the season, but for an additional three years as well. The last three years are not guaranteed, but if Johnson continues to play like he has thus far, he can expect to see all of that money.
Players and coaches alike are on board with Johnson remaining with the team, but the young sharpshooter’s minutes have fluctuated due to being behind both Jeff Green and Wallace on the depth chart. However, with rumors circulating that the Celtics are looking to deal Green and Wallace before the upcoming trade deadline, Johnson may see his minutes increase in the near future. Johnson has most certainly defied the odds, and if he continues to make it rain from deep, expect to hear his name in the Celtics’ highlight reel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wvlSpaNQqQ
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