Taj Gibson is closing one chapter of his basketball life exactly where another one began.
The 41-year-old veteran has announced his retirement after 17 NBA seasons and will immediately return to the Chicago Bulls as an assistant coach on Tiago Splitter’s staff. The move brings Gibson back to the franchise that drafted him 26th overall in 2009 and where he spent the first eight-plus seasons of his career.
Gibson leaves the NBA after 1,012 regular-season games, including 462 starts, with career averages of 8.3 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 51.7 percent from the field. He also spent time with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets and Memphis Grizzlies.
His strongest connection, however, has always been with Chicago.
Gibson became one of the defining role players of the Bulls teams coached by Tom Thibodeau, bringing defense, rebounding, physicality and reliability off the bench. During his first stint with the organization, he averaged 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game and finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting in 2014. He also helped Chicago reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2011.
That reputation followed him throughout the rest of his career. Gibson was rarely the centerpiece of a roster, but he remained valuable because of his willingness to defend, screen, rebound and accept whatever role was required. Late in his career, that value increasingly extended beyond the box score, with younger players often pointing to his professionalism and leadership.
His transition into coaching therefore feels natural.
Gibson will join Splitter’s first Bulls staff alongside assistants Wes Unseld Jr., Blake Ahearn, Jamelle McMillan, Rex Kalamian, Jonah Herscu and Jordan Brink. For Chicago, bringing back a player with deep organizational ties gives the new coaching staff someone who understands both the demands of an NBA locker room and the identity the franchise is trying to rebuild.
