BOSTON — It’s safe for the TD Garden pro shop to start stocking those No. 12 jerseys now.
Budding fan favorite Chris Johnson has signed with the Boston Celtics through the end of the season, the team announced in a news release shortly before Friday’s game against the Sacramento Kings. Terms were not disclosed, but the Celtics called the deal a “multi-year” contract.
Most likely, Johnson has been given a non-guaranteed deal for next season, similar to what the Celtics have offered players in Johnson’s position in the past.
Johnson, 23, was originally signed to a 10-day contract on Jan. 17. The team signed him to another 10-day deal on Jan. 28. Per NBA rules, the Celtics either had to sign Johnson through the end of the season or let him go to sign as a free agent elsewhere.
The Celtics elected to keep him after coach Brad Stevens lauded his play, at one point calling Johnson “one of our best players” during his stint. The 6-foot-6 swingman out of Dayton has appeared in eight games, averaging 7.6 points in 21.6 minutes per game.
