Taj Gibson is coming home.

After 17 seasons in the NBA, Gibson officially announced his retirement from basketball on Monday. At nearly the exact same time, the Chicago Bulls announced that the longtime fan favorite would join Tiago Splitter's coaching staff as an assistant coach.

For Bulls fans, Gibson's return carries plenty of nostalgia. He was an integral part of the Derrick Rose era and spent the first eight seasons of his career in Chicago. But this move is about much more than bringing back a familiar face.

Gibson could be exactly what Jalen Smith needs.

Smith enters the 2026-27 season in an interesting position. He has already established himself as a productive NBA big man, but there still appears to be another level he can reach. If the Bulls want to unlock it, there may not be a better mentor than Gibson.

Gibson's path to the NBA was unusual from the beginning.

He didn't begin his college career at USC until he was 21 years old. By the time he left after his junior season, Gibson was 24 and had developed into one of the best defensive big men in college basketball. He won Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and finished his USC career as the school's all-time leader in blocked shots.

The Bulls selected him 26th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft.

From there, Gibson did a little bit of everything.

He started 70 games as a rookie and earned First-Team All-Rookie honors. As Chicago's roster evolved, Gibson eventually settled into a bench role behind players like Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah and later Pau Gasol. Instead of allowing that to limit him, Gibson turned himself into one of the NBA's most reliable reserve big men.

He could play the four or the five. He protected the rim. He defended the interior. He rebounded. He brought toughness and physicality every night.

Most importantly, he didn't need a specific role to make an impact.

Gibson finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting during the 2013-14 season after averaging a career-high 13.0 points per game. He spent much of his Bulls career moving between the starting lineup and bench, yet his approach rarely changed.

That last part is important.

Gibson was always a tone setter. He demanded maximum effort from himself and brought an edge whenever he stepped onto the floor. His ability to accept different responsibilities without allowing them to change how hard he played became one of his defining characteristics.

That sounds a lot like the lesson Smith needs now.

Smith entered the NBA as the No. 10 overall pick in 2020 with plenty of potential but without a clearly defined NBA role.

He was a skinny, athletic big man who needed time to physically develop. Six years later, he barely resembles that player.

Smith has added significant muscle and strength to his frame, allowing him to become much more physical around the basket. He has also developed legitimate shooting range, transforming himself into a valuable stretch big who can operate at either frontcourt position.

Last season was another step forward.

Smith averaged 10.2 points and 6.7 rebounds in just 20.7 minutes per game while shooting 37.3% from three. His per-36 numbers were even more impressive at 17.8 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.

The offensive value is obvious. Smith can run the floor, finish inside, crash the glass and pull opposing big men away from the basket.

Defensively, there were also encouraging signs.

Smith has the athleticism and length to provide some rim protection while possessing enough mobility to spend stretches at power forward. That versatility could become particularly valuable for a Bulls team that wants more size and length on the floor.

The question isn't whether Smith has NBA skills anymore.

It's how he can best put all of them together.

That's what makes Gibson such an intriguing mentor.

Smith isn't going to enter every game knowing exactly what his role will be. He has bounced between the starting lineup and bench throughout his career. With Nic Claxton now in Chicago, Smith could once again spend significant time as a reserve while also getting opportunities alongside another center.

That type of uncertainty can be difficult for a player.

Gibson lived in it.

He spent years switching between power forward and center, starting and coming off the bench, playing heavy minutes one night and taking a smaller role the next. He found ways to impact games regardless.

That is the next step for Smith.

There will be nights when his three-point shot is falling and Chicago needs his offense. There will be others when his biggest responsibility is rebounding, protecting the rim or bringing energy off the bench. There may also be stretches where Splitter asks him to play alongside Claxton and defend more mobile forwards.

Gibson understands every one of those assignments.

He can also help Smith with the smaller aspects of playing NBA defense that don't always show up in a box score. Positioning, timing, screening angles, communication and knowing when to challenge a shot are skills Gibson spent 17 seasons mastering.

For a player with Smith's physical tools, those details could make a major difference.

There is also a reason Gibson lasted 17 seasons.

By the end of his career, teams weren't signing him because they expected 30 minutes and 15 points every night. Gibson stuck around because organizations valued what he brought to a locker room.

He became a veteran presence for younger teams and players during stops with organizations like New York, Charlotte and Memphis. His job gradually shifted from simply producing on the floor to helping younger players understand how to survive in the NBA.

Now that role is official.

Gibson is a coach.

And one of his first projects should be Smith.

At 26 years old, Smith isn't some raw prospect anymore. He has played six NBA seasons and already proven he belongs. But there is a difference between being a productive rotation big and becoming the type of player winning teams trust in any situation.

Gibson spent nearly two decades being the latter.

The Bulls aren't just bringing back a franchise favorite. They're adding someone who understands what it takes to build a career through defense, toughness, versatility and accepting whatever role a team asks him to play.

If Smith is willing to listen, Gibson might be the perfect person to help him take the next step.