Full Breakdown
Taj Gibson Retires After 17 NBA Seasons
By Drooid · · How we work
Retirement Announcement
Longtime forward Taj Gibson announced his retirement in a social-media post on Monday, describing the day as “very emotional.” He thanked family, friends, coaches, teammates, and fans, and reflected on a career that spanned 17 seasons and ten games with the Memphis Grizzlies, his eighth NBA team.
Career Overview
Selected 17th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft, Gibson played 1,012 regular-season games, averaging 8.3 points and 5.7 rebounds. He spent eight seasons with the Chicago Bulls, earned All-Rookie Team honors, and finished second to Jamal Crawford in the 2013-14 Sixth Man of the Year voting. Subsequent stints included the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves—where he started all 82 games in 2017-18—and brief roles with the New York Knicks, Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons, and finally the Grizzlies. Known for physical tenacity, Gibson contributed toughness, energy, leadership, and “heart” off the bench for multiple franchises.
Future Role with the Chicago Bulls
According to ESPN reporter Shams Charania, the Bulls plan to add Gibson to the coaching staff of new head coach Tiago Splitter as an assistant. The move would transition Gibson directly from player to a front-court mentorship position, allowing him to apply his on-court experience to player development.
Official Statements & Responses
The Bulls organization has not issued a formal press release, but internal reports confirm the hiring decision. Gibson’s own remarks emphasized gratitude for every teammate, coach, and city he encountered throughout his career, underscoring his desire to remain connected to the game.