Taj Gibson Hangs Up His Sneakers After 17 Seasons in the NBA

Longtime NBA forward Taj Gibson posted on social media Monday, letting everyone know he’s officially retiring. The 41‑year‑old thanked his family, friends, coaches, teammates, and the fans who stuck with him through every grind.

His final stop? Ten games with the Memphis Grizzlies, the eighth jersey he ever wore. "Today is a very emotional day for me," Gibson wrote. "After 17 seasons in the NBA, I can honestly say I gave this game everything I had."

Gibson is one of the few remaining players from the 2009 draft class. Over 1,012 regular‑season games he averaged 8.3 points and 5.7 rebounds – solid numbers for a guy who built his reputation on hustle, toughness and doing the dirty work.

He was a first‑round pick of the Chicago Bulls, where he spent eight seasons, made the All‑Rookie team and almost snagged the 2013‑14 Sixth Man of the Year award, finishing a close second to Jamal Crawford.

After a brief stint with Oklahoma City, Gibson started all 82 games for Minnesota in 2017‑18. The last five years saw him bounce around, providing physical tenacity off the bench for the Knicks, Wizards, Pistons, Bulls and finally the Grizzlies.

"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," he said. "I wanted to be the guy my teammates could count on, someone who brought toughness, energy, leadership, and heart every time I stepped on the court."

Retirement, however, doesn’t mean saying goodbye to basketball. ESPN’s Shams Charania reports the Bulls have already tapped Gibson as an assistant on new head coach Tiago Splitter’s staff. "This isn’t goodbye to basketball. It’s the beginning of a new chapter," Gibson added. "After 31 years of basketball, I can walk away with no regrets, knowing I left everything on the floor. God has truly blessed me. Thank you, basketball."