Credit: Getty Images Creator: Gregory Shamus
Taj Gibson’s NBA playing career is over — but his basketball journey isn’t.
After 17 seasons in the NBA, Gibson is retiring as a player and returning to the Chicago Bulls as an assistant coach under head coach Tiago Splitter, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
For Gibson, the timing couldn’t be more fitting.
The Brooklyn native is returning to the organization that gave him his first NBA opportunity in 2009. The Bulls selected Gibson with the No. 26 overall pick in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft, beginning a seven-season run in Chicago that helped establish him as one of the league’s most respected defensive-minded big men and veteran leaders.
Now, more than 17 years after hearing his name called on draft night, Gibson is coming back to Chicago in a completely different role.
This time, he’s coming home to coach.
From Fort Greene to the NBA
Gibson’s story began far from the bright lights of the NBA.
Growing up in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene Projects, he developed a love for basketball that eventually took him to USC and then to the NBA.
In his retirement announcement, Gibson reflected on just how unlikely and special the journey was.
Basketball, he said, gave him the opportunity to live a dream.
From Brooklyn to USC, to Chicago and every city that followed, Gibson expressed gratitude for the teammates, coaches, family members, friends, agents, fans and everyone who helped him along the way.
He also explained the type of player he wanted to be.
Someone his teammates could count on.
Someone who brought toughness, energy, leadership and heart every time he stepped onto the court.
That mentality helped Gibson remain in the NBA for 17 seasons.
A Career Built on Toughness
Gibson wasn’t a player who needed the ball in his hands to make an impact.
His value came from doing the things winning teams need.
Defense.
Rebounding.
Physicality.
Screening.
Veteran leadership.
And doing the dirty work.
After beginning his career with the Bulls, Gibson went on to play for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons and other NBA organizations.
He became the type of veteran younger players could learn from and coaches could trust.
Now he’ll take those experiences from the locker room to the bench.
A New Chapter in Chicago
Gibson’s return comes as the Bulls begin a new chapter under Splitter.
Rather than simply walking away from the game, Gibson will immediately begin developing his coaching career alongside a franchise that played such an important role in his playing career.
That makes this more than a retirement story.
It’s a full-circle moment.
The Bulls drafted Gibson as a 24-year-old rookie.
Now, after nearly two decades of NBA experience, he’s returning to Chicago to help teach the next generation.
There may be no better place for Gibson to begin his coaching career.
“This Isn’t Goodbye to Basketball”
Gibson’s retirement message made it clear that he isn’t walking away from basketball itself.
He’s simply changing his role.
“But this isn’t goodbye to Basketball. It’s the beginning of a new chapter.”
After 31 years of playing basketball, Gibson said he can walk away with no regrets, knowing he left everything on the floor.
And now he gets the opportunity to give everything he learned to the players coming behind him.
From the Fort Greene Projects to USC.
From the Chicago Bulls to 17 NBA seasons.
And now, back to Chicago as a coach.
Taj Gibson’s playing career may be finished.
But his basketball story is just entering another chapter.
Welcome home, Coach Gibson.
