Taj Gibson Coaching Return
Taj Gibson Retires From the NBA After 17 Seasons and Joins Bulls Coaching Staff
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Key Points
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Gibson spent nearly eight seasons with Chicago, appearing in 562 games and averaging 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game for the Bulls.
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Gibson’s retirement followed a late-career transaction in which Memphis traded him to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a deal involving Jordan Hawkins; New Orleans then waived him.
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As he announced his retirement, Gibson wrote, “But this isn’t goodbye to Basketball. It’s the beginning of a new chapter,” adding that after 31 years in the sport he could leave with “no regrets” because he had “left everything on the floor.”
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New Bulls coach Tiago Splitter said of his expectations for the team, “I can guarantee you one thing: we are going to compete every night, and we are going to have high standards with everything we do.”
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Gibson was a Brooklyn native and was selected out of USC with the 26th pick in the 2009 draft; he finished his career shooting 51.7 percent from the field while averaging 22.9 minutes per game.
Taj Gibson is hanging up his playing shoes after 17 NBA seasons and stepping straight into a coaching role. The 41-year-old veteran will join the Chicago Bulls' coaching staff under new head coach Tiago Splitter TheScore. Gibson, drafted 26th overall by Chicago in 2009, played his final games for the Memphis Grizzlies this season before being traded to New Orleans and then waived.
Gibson leaves the court with no regrets, saying his retirement marks "the beginning of a new chapter" rather than a goodbye to basketball The Epoch Times. Over 17 seasons, he appeared in 1,012 games and averaged 8.3 points and 5.7 rebounds while building a reputation for tireless two-way defense and veteran leadership.
A Chicago Lifer Becomes a Bull Coach
Gibson spent nearly eight seasons with the Bulls, his original NBA home. He appeared in 562 games for Chicago, averaging 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game The Epoch Times. He became a fan favorite for his energy, versatility, and willingness to guard multiple positions. Now, his deep connection to the franchise makes him a natural fit to help develop a young roster.
The Bulls have missed the playoffs for four straight seasons. Splitter, in his first year as head coach, promised players high standards and daily competitiveness. Gibson's presence offers institutional memory and credibility—a former teammate who can speak from experience about what winning looks like in Chicago The Chron.
From Seventh-Round Value to Veteran Mainstay
Gibson arrived in the NBA as a lesser-known draft pick—26th overall from USC—but proved doubters wrong through relentless effort. He shot 51.7 percent from the field over his career and averaged 22.9 minutes per game Medicine Hat News. Across seven other franchises beyond Chicago, he earned respect as a reliable role player who knew his job and executed it.
His late-career moves show how even aging veterans hold value. Despite limited playing time, teams continued to chase Gibson's leadership and work ethic. The Grizzlies traded him to New Orleans as part of a deal The Hour, but his release opened a door back to the Bulls—this time on the coaching side where his experience matters most.
Splitter and Gibson Build Culture Together
Tiago Splitter is assembling his first Bulls coaching staff, and Gibson is a key piece. Splitter said: "I can guarantee you one thing: we are going to compete every night, and we are going to have high standards with everything we do." Gibson, with 31 years tied to basketball, brings credibility to that message The Epoch Times.
Gibson wrote at his retirement announcement: "But this isn't goodbye to Basketball. It's the beginning of a new chapter." After leaving "everything on the floor" for 17 years, he now enters a rebuilding mission where his voice—calm, earned, tested—can guide younger players toward the standards Splitter is establishing The Score.
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