Taj Gibson, Minnesota Timberwolves
Taj Gibson, Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves have been in the process of re-tooling their roster this offseason. Tim Connelly shipped Julius Randle and Naz Reid to add LaMelo Ball and Jonathan Kuminga. What hasn’t changed is the coaching staff, short of losing key assistant Micah Nori.
There were rumblings that maybe a LeBron James confidant could have been added during their pursuit of the future Hall of Famer. That obviously never came to fruition and the holdover coaching staff largely remained intact.
That isn’t the same circumstances for former MN Timberwolves big man Taj Gibson. Not only did he announce his retirement, but he immediately became a coach as well.
Taj Gibson now to coach against MN Timberwolves
Last season Taj Gibson played in 10 games for the Memphis Grizzlies. He appeared in 152 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves between 2017-2019. Now 41 years old, he’s hanging them up.
Today is a very emotional day for me.
After 17 seasons in the NBA, I can honestly say I gave this game everything I had.
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. From… pic.twitter.com/tQAgHoUYl6
— Taj Gibson (@TajGibson) September 14, 2026
During his two seasons with the Timberwolves, Gibson averaged 11.5 points per game. He shot 57.2% from the field, and played in all 82 games for the first season he spent in Minnesota.
After leaving the Timberwolves, Gibson played with the New York Knicks (3.5 yrs), Washington Wizards (1 yr), Detroit Pistons (0.5 yrs), Charlotte Hornets (1 yr), and Memphis Grizzlies (1 yr). After 62 games in his first season with the Knicks, he never played in more than 52 games in a season. Over his final three years, he played in just 67 total games.
Across his 17-year career, Gibson made just short of $95 million. He was the 26th overall pick in 2009 out of USC.
MN Timberwolves big man goes back to Chicago Bulls
Although he won’t be running up and down the court, Taj Gibson is headed back to the Chicago Bulls. Having spent eight years of his career as a player there, Gibson will now work for Tiago Splitter as an assistant coach.
After 17 NBA seasons, Taj Gibson is retiring and returning to the Chicago Bulls as an assistant coach under Tiago Splitter to begin his coaching career. pic.twitter.com/K601XXGZe2
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 14, 2026
The Bulls grabbed Gibson out of the draft, and he rewarded them immediately with a 5th place finish for Rookie of the Year. He was consistently a Sixth Man of the Year consideration as well.
After Chauncey Billups coached against the Timberwolves to open last season, he was promptly removed from the court due to gambling allegations. Tiago Splitter stepped in and led the Trailblazers to a 42-39 record.
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Rather than keep Splitter, Portland hired Micah Nori (to a one-year deal) and Splitter was picked up as the Chicago Bulls new leader. Gibson has familiarity with the franchise and will immediately bring that certainty to Spitter’s staff.
Minnesota plays the Bulls for the first time this season on November 14.