National Basketball Association

Ex-Purdue star Johnson ready to play for Celtics

Published Dec. 2, 2011 2:44 p.m. ET

foxsports

JaJuan Johnson has had a whirlwind week.

Purdue formally dedicated a banner honoring him at halftime of the Boilermakers' game against Miami on Tuesday night.

With the NBA lockout coming to an end, he's finally is getting ready to start his rookie season. The Boston Celtics selected the 6-foot-10 center in the first round of the 2011 draft.

Johnson looks forward to the scheduled Christmas Day matchup between the Celtics and the New York Knicks.

''It's all excitement right now,'' he said. ''I know getting ready to play on Christmas Day might be a little different, but for right now, I'm just ready to get out there.''

Before heading off to work, he returned to Purdue to see his No. 25 hanging in the Mackey Arena rafters.

''It's a huge honor,'' he said. ''Freshman year, I used to always look at Glenn Robinson up there, and now to be up there by his name is kind of cool. I'm extremely happy about it.''

Johnson's banner hangs next to former teammate E'Twaun Moore's No. 33. The Celtics also took Moore in the second round of the draft. Johnson said it was special to see his number next to Moore's.

''It feels good,'' he said. ''We came in together, and we went out the same way. A lot of classes that go in together, they can't really say the person they went in with, they both got their jerseys retired. That's really special.''

Johnson became just the fifth player to earn both Big Ten Player and Defensive Player of the Year honors in the same season after leading the league with 20.7 points and 2.5 blocks per game in 2010-11.

Purdue coach Matt Painter stayed on the floor at halftime to participate in the ceremony, something Johnson appreciated.

''That was really nice,'' he said. ''He's in the middle of a game, trying to get the win. It shows a lot that he was there on one of my big days of my basketball career to support me.''

Johnson watched the second half and said it was strange to be a spectator.

''It's a little different,'' he said. ''I got a great reception from everybody, a lot of love. This is a place I can always come back and be remembered, so that's good.''

Johnson was impressed with the look of Mackey Arena. The facility is in the final stages of a $100 million renovation.

''It's beautiful,'' he said. ''The new seats, the new floor - everything looks good here. Obviously, they still have some more stuff to do, but it's only going to look better from here.''

Johnson figures he and Moore might have played a role in funding the renovation.

''Maybe a little bit,'' he said with a chuckle. ''We did contribute to some of the wins. But you've got to put that on coach Painter. He's the guy behind everything.''

Johnson was busy this summer, playing in the Indy Pro-Am league and working out.

''Just working out in Indy and moving back and forth, to Chicago, different places, playing in a few games here and there,'' he said. ''Got to go to Boston a few times. It's all been a good experience.''

Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cliffbruntap