17-year veteran Ty Gibson announced his retirement and joined the Bulls coaching staff.
2026-09-15 08:35
Taj Gibson, a veteran center who has played in the league for 17 years, has officially announced the end of his playing career and will return to where his dream began, serving as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls, assisting head coach Tiago Splitter.
The 41-year-old Gibson was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 26th overall pick in the first round of the 2009 NBA draft. During his first seven and a half seasons with Chicago, he became a representative of the team's tough and resilient spirit with his fierce defense and fighting spirit.
During this period, Gibson, along with Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and others, led the Bulls to an impressive 62 wins in a single season, and was ranked in the top ten in the Sixth Man of the Year voting three times, even finishing second in the 2013-14 season.
After leaving Chicago, Gibson played for several teams, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the New York Knicks, always serving as a pillar of support in the locker room thanks to his outstanding professionalism.
Following his recent trade to the New Orleans Pelicans and subsequent waiver, this veteran of 17 seasons has finally chosen to retire from the court. In his retirement statement, he wrote emotionally, "I gave it my all and achieved my basketball dream. This is not a farewell, but the beginning of a new chapter."
The Bulls currently have one roster spot available, but management opted to hire Gibson directly into the coaching staff. This move infuses the team with irreplaceable grit and locker room leadership while maintaining roster flexibility and not tying down salary cap space.
Gibson and Splitter will officially begin their coaching careers in the regular season opener against the Toronto Raptors on October 21.
Image source: Internet/ESPN official website
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