Taj Gibson is ready for his second NBA act.
The veteran forward retired Monday after 17 seasons, an announcement that was quickly followed by the Bulls revealing he’d joined their coaching staff.
“I can honestly say I gave this game everything I had,” Gibson wrote in a social media post. “I’m grateful for every moment, every teammate, every coach, and every person who believed in me.”
“But this isn’t goodbye to Basketball,” the 41-year-old added. “It’s the beginning of a new chapter.
Now, he’ll join first-year Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter as an assistant on a staff that already includes Wes Unseld Jr., Blake Ahearn, Jamelle McMillan, Rex Kalamian and Jonah Herscu.
Gibson returns to Chicago, the franchise that drafted him in 2009 and with which he spent his first eight NBA seasons. He also had stints with the Knicks, Timberwolves, Wizards, Hornets, Thunder, Grizzlies and Pistons, averaging 8.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks over 1,012 career games.
He was waived by New Orleans last week following a trade which sent him and AJ Johnson to the Pelicans for Jordan Hawks, Micah Peavy, a second-round pick and a pick swap.
It was an end to his playing career that he’s at peace with.
“As a kid from Brooklyn, NY, I was lucky to get a chance to display my talent on the biggest stage,” Gibson wrote. “From Fort Greene Projects to USC, to the Chicago Bulls, and every team and city that came after, I’m grateful for every moment, every teammate, every coach, and every person who believed in me.
“After 31 years of basketball, I can walk away with no regrets, knowing I left everything on the floor. God has truly blessed me.”
