From college to the pros, Johnson honors mother with jersey number

PORTLAND, Maine. - The journey back to the NBA is back on track for Maine Celtics guard Keon Johnson.

Prior to his time in Portland, Johnson played 161 games in the association. Most recently, the high-flying guard started 56 out of the 79 games he appeared in for the Brooklyn Nets in 2024-25. The 23-year-old guard averaged 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.0 steals in his fourth NBA season. He shot 38.9% from the floor and 31.4% from beyond the arc with the Nets. 

"You can tell he has NBA experience by the level of intensity he brings to the game," said Maine Head Coach Phil Pressey on Johnson's game. "He's a high level athlete as we all know, but his intensity is through the roof when he steps onto the court."

In what could be seen as a surprising move, Johnson was waived by the Nets ahead of this season's training camp. Johnson was added by the Maine Celtics on December 1, and made his Celtics debut later on the sixth. He scored 21 points in a win against Capital City on December 10 and flashed his NBA availability. Just three games into his stint in Maine, Johnson injured his knee on December 12 putting the rest of his season and his NBA comeback in jeopardy.

"It was more of a mental battle more than anything," Johnson explained. "Stepping away from the team for that long of a time and then be able to reimplement myself around the guys, and also keep the positive energy around the team. It was a big learning curve for me in my career and taking that next step to where I'm trying to go and staying positive through everything that is going on."

Johnson returned to action on February 25 against the Long Island Nets where he scored 10 points off the bench. Now three games into his return to Maine, Johnson said it finally feels like he's got his legs back under him. The fourth-year guard scored 21 points in 23 minutes to go with a season-high 10 rebounds in Maine's win over Windy City on Sunday.

"It feels great getting my legs back under me. Getting in the flow of game play and just trying to find my spots out there," Johnson said on Sunday.

Johnson brings a veteran experience and a sense of focus that resonates with his teammates in Maine. Keon knows Maine is a stepping stone in his career, and it's a chance for him to improve everyday on and off the court his his journey back to the league. Johnson has strived to lead by example, set the tone defensively for the Celtics, and do what he does best. He believes that if he does that, the rest will take care of itself.

"Each and every time I get to lace up, I know it's another opportunity for me to reinvent myself and step back out on the big court like I want to be."

March is Women's History Month and each time Johnson laces up, he pays homage to one of the most important people in his life, his mother, Conswella Johnson. Conswella was an elite basketball player in her own right, playing Division I basketball at Auburn. Then known as Conswella Sparrow, Johnson's mother was a two-time All-SEC basketball player for the Tigers while wearing the number 45.

"My mom has been there every step of the way, encouraging me and lifting me up. She's seen me at my lowest and she's always there at my highest."

During his freshman season at Tennessee, in the NBA playing for the LA Clippers and Brooklyn Nets, and now for the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League, Johnson wears the number 45 on the court, just like his mom did.

A knee injury sidelined Johnson and may have put temporarily brought him to his lowest, but if Sunday's performance was any indication, we may be seeing that #45 represented again at the highest level.