Taj Gibson Announces Retirement, Joins Bulls Coaching Staff

Gibson, 41, spent his first eight seasons with the Bulls, who drafted him 26th overall out of USC in 2009. He was an important part of the team’s success in the early 2010s, playing a crucial role off the bench for head coach Tom Thibodeau.

In 562 games (229 starts) with Chicago, he averaged 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. His best season came in 2013-14, when he averaged 13.0 points and 6.8 rebounds over 82 games while finishing second in Sixth Man of the Year voting. He specialized in defense and physicality, becoming a fan favorite due to his energetic and hard-nosed play.

Gibson was dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the 2017 trade deadline and played 23 games there before following Thibodeau to the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. He played for eight different teams during his career and spent his final season with the Memphis Grizzlies, mostly acting as a veteran locker room presence.

“Basketball gave me the opportunity to live a dream. 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.”

According to Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic, Gibson’s interest in coaching evolved at the NBA Top 100 camp, where he coached and mentored top-ranked high school prospects in recent years. The journeyman will now look to make a similar impact coaching a young Bulls roster that includes No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson, 21-year-old Matas Buzelis and 23-year-old Josh Giddey.

The Bulls finished 31-51 last season, missing the playoffs for the fourth season in a row. They made significant changes this offseason, hiring 39-year-old executive Bryson Graham to lead their front office before appointing Splitter as head coach.

Splitter, 41, navigated a challenging season as interim coach of the Portland Trail Blazers in 2025-26, leading the team to a 42-40 record and their first playoff appearance since 2020-21. In addition to Gibson, his coaching staff for the 2026-27 season includes Wes Unseld Jr., Blake Ahearn, Jamelle McMillan, Rex Kalamian, Jonah Herscu and Jordan Brink.