Buckle up, basketball fans—the Boston Celtics are injecting some serious firepower into their G League ranks, and it’s got the potential to send shockwaves through the developmental league. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Maine Celtics have inked free agent sharpshooter Keon Johnson, a former first-round phenom who’s been itching for a shot at redemption. At just 23 years old, this 6-foot-5 swingman—affectionately dubbed “The Assassin” for his lethal scoring touch and defensive prowess—is poised to turn heads and reclaim his NBA trajectory.
Johnson’s journey to Beantown reads like a high-stakes thriller. A standout during his lone season with the Tennessee Volunteers, where he earned SEC All-Freshman honors, he exploded onto the pro scene as the No. 21 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Originally selected by the New York Knicks, his rights were swiftly flipped to the LA Clippers in a deal that brought in Quentin Grimes and future draft assets. But Johnson’s time in Tinseltown was brief and sporadic, as he saw limited minutes before being packaged in a February 2022 blockbuster trade to the Portland Trail Blazers. In exchange for Norman Powell and Robert Covington, LA sent Johnson alongside Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, and a second-round pick.
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The plot thickened ahead of the 2023-24 season when Johnson became a pawn in the massive three-team swap that dispatched Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. Landing with the Phoenix Suns along with Grayson Allen, Jusuf Nurkic, and Nassir Little, Johnson’s stay was short-lived—he was waived before the regular season tipped off. Undeterred, he bounced back with a two-way contract from the Brooklyn Nets in November 2023, eventually earning a standard roster spot in the 2024 offseason. Yet, fate struck again, and he was released this past September.
Even amid the NBA turbulence, Johnson’s talent hasn’t gone unnoticed overseas. As reported by Dejan Gajic of Basketball Sphere, the Serbian EuroLeague powerhouse KK Crvena Zvezda eyed him as a potential injury replacement for the 2025-26 season, underscoring his global appeal.
On the court, Johnson’s NBA numbers tell a story of untapped potential: across 161 games with three teams over four seasons, he’s averaged 8.2 points on .379/.324/.765 shooting, 2.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.8 steals per game. Solid, but not the full picture. Where he truly shines—and where the warning bells should be ringing for G League opponents—is in the minors. During stints with the Agua Caliente Clippers (now San Diego Clippers) in 2021-22 and the Long Island Nets in 2023-24, Johnson has been a dominant force. In 33 regular-season G League appearances (eight starts), he’s torched defenses for 17.7 points on .459/.369/.780 splits, while hauling in 6.1 boards, dishing 3.0 assists, swiping 1.1 steals, and blocking 0.6 shots per night.
Now, with the Maine Celtics as his new proving ground, Johnson has a golden opportunity to sharpen his skills under the Boston umbrella. The Celtics’ championship pedigree and player development machine could be the perfect catalyst for his comeback. Will “The Assassin” strike back and earn a call-up to the big leagues? If his G League track record is any indication, rivals better watch their backs—this former first-round weapon is locked, loaded, and ready to unleash.