Joe Johnson, aka “Iso Joe,” is coming off another phenomenal season in entertainment mogul Ice Cube’s Big 3 league, winning league MVP for the second time.
The former Arkansas Razorbacks star is now 40 years old but firmly believes he can still help an NBA team. As the 2021-22 NBA season draws closer, the former All-Star hasn’t completely closed the door on a possible NBA return.
At age 38 and less than two seasons removed from NBA service with the Houston Rockets ISO dominated season 3 of Ice Cube‘s burgeoning league, breaking the scoring record, leading the league in points per game (21.9) and winning the MVP Award, while leading his team Triplets into the BIG3 Championship on September 1.
After that season he earned a few workouts with some NBA teams.
Add the Pelicans to that list of interest in Joe Johnson, a source said. Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry and VP David Griffin watched Joe Johnson play in the @thebig3 in New Orleans last week. https://t.co/ubMxbwqKfu
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) August 28, 2019
At age 40, Johnson 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 résumé, the 6-foot-7 forward is thinking about other exciting options to prolong his basketball career.
In a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Johnson made it clear he isn’t done playing and he remains interested in a possible return 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 to tell you, to be honest with you. But imma be out here trying to get things done.”
A Young Man’s League
As teams enter training camp for the 2021-22 season Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem will be the oldest player in the league at 41.
Haslem is currently the only player still playing in his 40s, with Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala and Los Angeles Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony both 37, the next eldest players.
Johnson signed an NBA contract in 2019 with the Detroit Pistons but was cut a month later as the franchise solidified its roster after training camp.
Johnson, was the No.10 overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. He was traded to the Phoenix Suns, and he definitely had his superstar moments as a seven-time All-Star.
Johnson really thrived in his prime and became a household name with the Atlanta Hawks. Across seven prime seasons, he averaged more than 20 points a game five times. For his career Johnson averaged 16.0 ppg and shot 44 percent from the floor and 37 percent from 3-point range. Getting buckets is something he’s never had a problem doing.
NBA Return Or Face OF Big 3?
Considering Johnson last played in the NBA in 2018, it’s unlikely that 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 if he so chooses.
Ice Cube’s 3-on-3 pro league has been picking up steam every season since its inception in 2017. The League has been exciting with its array of retired pros, former college stars, NBA castaways and guys who desperately want to showcase their talents for one more crack at the league.
Cube has former WNBA and NBA legends coaching and a solid fan base in every arena. What the league hasn’t had is that one dominant superstar — until now.
ISO Joe is the face of the Big 3 League. The NBA fire still burns, but his best bet is to put this League on his back, ball out and attract more seasoned NBA all-stars to play and make the league even more legit.
