Longtime NBA forward Taj Gibson announced his retirement on Monday after a 17-year playing career.
Gibson will now join the staff of the Chicago Bulls as an assistant coach, the team announced.
"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."
Gibson played eight seasons with the Bulls after being drafted by the organization in 2009 and became a fan favorite as the team made its deepest postseason runs since the Jordan-dynasty of the 1990s. Gibson also returned to Chicago this past January to take part in the ceremony for Derrick Rose's jersey retirement.
Gibson spent some time around the Bulls at Summer League in Las Vegas in July when the idea of him joining the staff was first broached, and he will rejoin the franchise to begin his coaching career on the staff of new head coach Tiago Splitter.
Wes Unseld Jr. will returns as a Bulls assistant, while Blake Ahearn, Jamelle McMillan, Rex Kalamian, Jonah Herscu join Gibson as new additions.
Gibson played 17 seasons in the NBA, averaging 8.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game while spending time with Chicago, New York, Minnesota, Washington, Charlotte, Oklahoma City, Memphis and Detroit
Gibson was a part of a four-player trade last week when the Memphis Grizzlies traded AJ Johnson and Gibson to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Jordan Hawkins, Micah Peavy, a future second round pick and second round pick swap. New Orleans waived Gibson following the deal.
