The Bulls legend is back. Taj Gibson returns to the NBA with the Grizzlies at the age of 40.
Taj Gibson's NBA career is not over yet.
The free agent reached a two-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday, per ESPN's Shams Charania. The 40-year-old veteran makes his NBA return for his 17th season after finishing last season with the Charlotte Hornets.
Gibson played eight seasons with the Chicago Bulls from 2009 to 2017, averaging 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. His prime as a Bulls player came during the 2013-14 season, when he appeared in all 82 games (eight starts) and peaked at 13.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. He finished as runner-up for that season's Sixth Man of the Year Award behind the Los Angeles Clippers' Jamal Crawford.
During his Bulls tenure, Chicago made six consecutive playoff appearances from 2010 to 2015. The highlight came in the 2010-11 season when he reached the Eastern Conference Finals alongside teammates Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer before falling 4-1 to the Miami Heat's Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.
Gibson became a beloved figure in Chicago for his relentless motor, physical defense and willingness to do the dirty work on the floor, which epitomized the grit-and-grind identity of Tom Thibodeau's Bulls teams back then. Even as a reserve, Gibson consistently delivered impactful minutes, earning respect throughout the league for his professionalism and consistency. The Bulls Nation remembers him fondly for his loyalty during the franchise's most competitive stretch of the post-Jordan era.
After leaving Chicago, Gibson journeyed through multiple franchises, including Minnesota (2017-2018), where he reunited with former Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, then Oklahoma City (2018-2019), New York (2019-2021, 2023-24), Washington (2021-2022), Detroit (2022-2023) and most recently Charlotte during the 2024-25 season. Throughout his 17-year career spanning over 1,000 NBA games, he's been valued for his toughness, veteran leadership, and reliable interior defense — qualities that never diminish regardless of age.
Before entering the professional field, the Brooklyn, NY native spent three years at USC, helping the Trojans capture the Pac-10 Tournament title in 2009 while earning All Pac-10 Tournament Team honors. The Bulls selected him 26th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft, a pick that proved to be one of the franchise's better draft decisions of the 2000s.
Gibson attended Rose's jersey retirement on Jan. 24 at the United Center. We may have another chance to see the former Bulls forward return to the stadium again on March 28 when Chicago hosts Memphis. At 40 years old, he becomes the 35th player in NBA history to appear in a game after turning 40.