Taj Gibson
Gibson with the Washington Wizards in 2022
Free agent
PositionCenter / power forward
Personal information
Born (1985-06-24) June 24, 1985
New York City, New York, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight232 lb (105 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeUSC (2006–2009)
NBA draft2009: 1st round, 26th overall pick
Selected by the Chicago Bulls
Playing career2009–present
Career history
2009–2017Chicago Bulls
2017Oklahoma City Thunder
2017–2019Minnesota Timberwolves
2019–2022New York Knicks
2022–2023Washington Wizards
2023–2024New York Knicks
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

Taj Jami Gibson (born June 24, 1985) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Gibson played college basketball for the USC Trojans and was selected 26th overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2009 NBA draft. The power forward played mostly a sixth man role off the bench for the Bulls before being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017, later signing with the Minnesota Timberwolves the same year and in 2019, he signed with the New York Knicks.

Early life and high school career

Gibson was born on June 24, 1985, in Brooklyn, New York. He attended P.S. 67 Charles A. Dorsey School in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood.[1] Gibson began his high school career at Brooklyn's High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology. He then attended Stoneridge Prep as a sophomore and junior in Tarzana, California. During his senior year in 2006, he attended Calvary Christian in San Fernando, California.

College career

Gibson during a practice at the NCAA tournament, 2009.

Gibson played at the University of Southern California, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. As one of the oldest freshmen in the country at age 21 in 2007 he was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshman team. He helped beat rival UCLA in 2008. Gibson was named to the 2009 All-Pac 10 Tournament Team by helping the Trojans win the Pacific-10 tournament championship at the Staples Center.[2]

Professional career

Chicago Bulls (2009–2017)

Gibson declared for the 2009 NBA draft,[3] and was selected 26th overall by the Chicago Bulls. Along with fellow draft pick James Johnson, he signed with the Bulls in July 2009.[4] Gibson was the starting power forward for most of his rookie season with the Bulls and impressed many people with his high energy and good defense. During the All-Star Weekend, Gibson played in the Rookie Challenge, where the Rookie team won for the first time since 2002. The Bulls made the playoffs, securing the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. Gibson averaged 7.6 points per game and 7.0 rebounds while the Bulls lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round. At the end of his first season, he was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.[5]

During the 2010 off-season, the Bulls signed power forward Carlos Boozer, who was expected to start at the beginning of the season rather than Gibson. But Boozer broke his hand before the pre-season, and Gibson started the first 15 games of the season. After Boozer's return, Gibson moved into a bench role for most of the season. He was selected as a starter for the Sophomore squad in the 2011 NBA Rising Stars challenge at the All-Star weekend, which the Rookie team won 148–140. Gibson played 18 minutes and recorded 8 points.[6] At the end of the season, the Bulls made the playoffs as the first seed in the Eastern Conference. On May 10, 2011, Gibson helped his team take a 3–2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals against Atlanta, making all of his 11 points in the fourth quarter.[7]

In May 2012, Gibson was named to the US Select Team, joining Jeremy Lin, DeMarcus Cousins, and Kyrie Irving in practicing with the US Olympic Team in preparation for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.[8] On October 31, 2012, Gibson signed a multi-year rookie scale contract extension with the Bulls.[9] Playing mostly a bench role in 2013–14, Gibson averaged 13 points and 6.8 rebounds on the season and was among the league leaders in blocked shots per game. He finished second in the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award, losing to Jamal Crawford.[10] On June 16, 2015, Gibson underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle and was ruled out for four months.[11] During the 2015–16 season, he appeared in 73 games and averaged 8.6 points and 6.9 rebounds.[12]

Oklahoma City Thunder (2017)

On February 23, 2017, Gibson was traded, along with Doug McDermott and an unprotected 2018 second-round draft pick, to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Joffrey Lauvergne, Anthony Morrow, and Cameron Payne.[13]

Minnesota Timberwolves (2017–2019)

Gibson with the Timberwolves in 2019

On July 10, 2017, Gibson signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, reuniting himself with coach Tom Thibodeau.[14] He became the second NBA player ever to wear No. 67,[15] in honor of his Brooklyn elementary school, P.S. 67.[16] On November 22, 2017, he scored a season-high 24 points in a 124–118 win over the Orlando Magic.[17] On February 15, 2018, Gibson scored a season-high 28 points against the Los Angeles Lakers.[18]

New York Knicks (2019–2022)

On July 9, 2019, Gibson signed with his hometown team the New York Knicks.[19] On November 19, 2020, the Knicks waived Gibson.[20] On January 7, 2021, Gibson re-signed with the Knicks.[21][22] He was waived again on July 8, 2022.[23]

Washington Wizards (2022–2023)

On July 19, 2022, Gibson signed with the Washington Wizards.[24]

On September 15, 2023, Gibson re-signed with the Wizards,[25] but was waived on October 23.[26]

Return to New York (2023–2024)

On December 15, 2023, Gibson signed a one-year deal with the New York Knicks, returning for a second stint with the franchise.[27][28][29] However, he was waived on January 7, 2024.[30]

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
 *  Led the league

NBA

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2009–10 Chicago 82*7026.9.494—.6467.5.9.61.39.0
2010–11 Chicago 801921.8.466.125.6765.7.7.71.37.1
2011–12 Chicago 63020.4.495—.6225.3.7.41.37.7
2012–13 Chicago 65522.4.485.000.6795.3.9.41.48.0
2013–14 Chicago 82828.7.479.000.7516.81.1.51.413.0
2014–15 Chicago 621727.3.502—.7176.41.1.61.210.3
2015–16 Chicago 735526.5.526.000.6926.91.5.61.18.6
2016–17 Chicago 565527.2.523.167.7146.91.1.5.911.6
2016–17 Oklahoma City 231621.2.4971.000.7184.5.6.6.79.0
2017–18 Minnesota 82*82*33.2.577.200.7687.11.2.8.712.2
2018–19 Minnesota 705724.1.566.324.7576.51.2.8.610.8
2019–20 New York 625616.5.584.286.7324.3.8.4.56.1
2020–21 New York 45320.8.627.200.7275.6.8.71.15.4
2021–22 New York 52418.2.518.395.8084.4.6.4.84.4
2022–23 Washington 4929.8.520.333.7141.9.7.3.23.4
2023–24 New York 1009.7.500.000—1.8.5.1.61.4
Career 95544923.6.518.261.7135.91.0.51.08.7

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2010 Chicago 5529.0.421—.5457.0.6.2.67.6
2011 Chicago 16017.8.566.000.6004.1.6.31.45.9
2012 Chicago 6022.8.457—.6826.5.7.71.79.5
2013 Chicago 12017.2.470.000.7273.0.3.3.56.5
2014 Chicago 5030.8.561—.7506.2.4.42.418.2
2015 Chicago 12223.0.472—.7005.51.0.31.07.4
2017 Oklahoma City 5523.6.600—.8753.6.6.2.09.8
2018 Minnesota 5524.6.636—1.0004.0.4.2.46.2
2021 New York 5327.6.600—1.0007.0.81.61.05.0
Career 712022.3.519.000.7094.9.6.41.07.8

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2006–07 USC 373732.4.558—.6238.71.5.51.912.2
2007–08 USC 333232.1.580—.5947.81.3.72.510.8
2008–09 USC 353533.7.601—.6599.01.31.02.914.3
Career 10510432.7.580—.6298.51.4.72.412.4

See also

References

  1. ↑ Friedell, Nick (October 4, 2017). "Representing Brooklyn, Taj Gibson becomes NBA's first No. 67". ESPN. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  2. ↑ Pac-10 All-Tournament Team
  3. ↑ Sidney to Mississippi State?
  4. ↑ Bulls sign rookies Johnson, Gibson
  5. ↑ Evans, Jennings, Curry unanimous All-Rookie team picks Archived 2015-06-12 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ 2011 NBA Rising Stars
  7. ↑ Derrick Rose, Bulls put Hawks on brink with dominant fourth
  8. ↑ BULLS' GIBSON NAMED TO USA MEN'S SELECT TEAM
  9. ↑ BULLS SIGN TAJ GIBSON TO MULTI-YEAR EXTENSION
  10. ↑ Jamal Crawford wins 2014 NBA Sixth Man of the Year
  11. ↑ TAJ GIBSON INJURY UPDATE
  12. ↑ Taj Gibson. Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Thunder Acquires Gibson, McDermott and Draft Pick". NBA.com. February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  14. ↑ "TIMBERWOLVES SIGN FORWARD TAJ GIBSON". NBA.com. July 10, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  15. ↑ "NBA & ABA Players Who Wore Uniform Number 67". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  16. ↑ Friedell, Nick (October 3, 2017). "Representing Brooklyn, Taj Gibson becomes NBA's first No. 67". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Butler ties season high with 26, Wolves beat Magic 124-118". ESPN.com. November 22, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  18. ↑ Campbell, Dave (February 16, 2018). "Gibson, Butler lead Timberwolves rally past Lakers, 119-111". ABC News. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  19. ↑ "New York Knicks Sign Five Players". NBA.com. July 9, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Knicks Announce Roster Moves". NBA.com. November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Knicks Sign Taj Gibson". NBA.com. January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  22. ↑ "New York Knicks re-sign Taj Gibson after waiving Omari Spellman". ESPN.com. January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Knicks waive Taj Gibson, who reportedly will sign with Wizards". Yahoo! Sports. July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Wizards sign Taj Gibson". NBA.com. July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Wizards Re-Sign Taj Gibson". NBA.com. September 15, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Wizards Announce 2023-24 Opening Night Roster". NBA.com. October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  27. ↑ NY_KnicksPR [@NY_KnicksPR] (December 15, 2023). ".@nyknicks Sign Taj Gibson" (Tweet). Retrieved December 15, 2023 – via Twitter.
  28. ↑ Sierra, Jorge (December 13, 2023). "Knicks to sign Taj Gibson". USAToday.com. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Taj Gibson rejoining Knicks, reuniting with coach Tom Thibodeau". NBA.com. December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  30. ↑ NY_KnicksPR [@NY_KnicksPR] (January 7, 2024). "Knicks waive Taj Gibson" (Tweet). Retrieved January 7, 2024 – via Twitter.
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