The Boston Celtics re-signed two-time BIG3 MVP “Iso” Joe Johnson to a 10-day contract on Tuesday, 7,245 days after he was traded away and 20 years after his debut in Boston. The last time he played for Boston was in Game 7 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals.

“I mean, I knew it was a possibility,” said the 40-year-old Johnson prior to Boston’s 111-101 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. “Obviously basketball is my first love. So like I said, to have this opportunity to come about, regardless of how it came, I’m definitely blessed and appreciative of the moment. … I’m glad it happened, man. We’ll see where it goes from here.”‘

Johnson had been spending his time in his hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas. His 14-year-old son reportedly plays high school ball there.

Johnson’s last appearance in an NBA game was with the Detroit Pistons in 2019. He had been a castaway since then, wondering if he could somehow be given a chance back to an NBA court.

“I wouldn’t say give up, but I didn’t have high hopes,” Johnson said. “My son’s 14, so he keeps me in the gym. We work and work and work, and I always talk to him (and say) ‘Just work. Even when you can’t see what’s next, you just gotta continue to work.'”