Well, wouldn’t this be a feel-good story? The Chicago Bulls are interested in bringing back Power Forward, Taj Gibson.
In the 2009 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls selected Taj Gibson with the 26th pick. Taj quickly became a fan favorite with his tenacious defense and “Hard hat and lunch pail” play. Taj was primarily a bench option during his time with the Bulls but did get his opportunities to start due to injuries to Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer.
Taj was traded in the 2016-2017 NBA season to the  Oklahoma City Thunder. Sent back in that trade were Cameron Payne, Joffrey Lauvergne and Anthony Morrow. Taj would play out the remainder of the season in OKC and then join the Minnesota Timberwolves the following year, reuniting with Coach Tom Thibodeau.
Taj has been a consistent player for the better part of a decade and adding him back would, of course, bring nostalgia but also bring a veteran presence to help the Bulls young bigs develop further.
| Season | Age | Tm | Lg | Pos | G | GS | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | 2P | 2PA | 2P% | eFG% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-10 | 24 | CHI | NBA | PF | 82 | 70 | 26.9 | 3.8 | 7.7 | .494 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.8 | 7.7 | .494 | .494 | 1.4 | 2.1 | .646 | 2.8 | 4.7 | 7.5 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 3.4 | 9.0 | |
| 2010-11 | 25 | CHI | NBA | PF | 80 | 19 | 21.8 | 2.9 | 6.3 | .466 | 0.0 | 0.1 | .125 | 2.9 | 6.2 | .472 | .467 | 1.3 | 1.9 | .676 | 2.0 | 3.7 | 5.7 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 2.5 | 7.1 |
| 2011-12 | 26 | CHI | NBA | PF | 63 | 0 | 20.4 | 3.2 | 6.4 | .495 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.2 | 6.4 | .495 | .495 | 1.3 | 2.1 | .622 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 5.3 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 7.7 | |
| 2012-13 | 27 | CHI | NBA | PF | 65 | 5 | 22.4 | 3.3 | 6.8 | .485 | 0.0 | 0.1 | .000 | 3.3 | 6.7 | .490 | .485 | 1.4 | 2.0 | .679 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 5.3 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 8.0 |
| 2013-14 | 28 | CHI | NBA | PF | 82 | 8 | 28.7 | 5.2 | 10.9 | .479 | 0.0 | 0.1 | .000 | 5.2 | 10.8 | .483 | .479 | 2.6 | 3.4 | .751 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 6.8 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 13.0 |
| 2014-15 | 29 | CHI | NBA | PF | 62 | 17 | 27.3 | 4.1 | 8.2 | .502 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.1 | 8.2 | .502 | .502 | 2.1 | 3.0 | .717 | 2.6 | 3.8 | 6.4 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 10.3 | |
| 2015-16 | 30 | CHI | NBA | PF | 73 | 55 | 26.5 | 3.6 | 6.8 | .526 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 3.6 | 6.8 | .529 | .526 | 1.4 | 2.0 | .692 | 2.8 | 4.1 | 6.9 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 8.6 |
| 2016-17 | 31 | TOT | NBA | PF | 78 | 71 | 25.5 | 4.7 | 9.1 | .515 | 0.0 | 0.2 | .231 | 4.6 | 8.9 | .520 | .517 | 1.4 | 2.0 | .715 | 2.0 | 4.2 | 6.2 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 10.8 |
| 2016-17 | 31 | CHI | NBA | PF | 55 | 55 | 27.3 | 5.0 | 9.6 | .521 | 0.0 | 0.2 | .167 | 5.0 | 9.4 | .529 | .523 | 1.5 | 2.2 | .714 | 2.2 | 4.8 | 6.9 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 11.6 |
| 2016-17 | 31 | OKC | NBA | PF | 23 | 16 | 21.2 | 3.9 | 7.8 | .497 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.000 | 3.8 | 7.7 | .494 | .500 | 1.2 | 1.7 | .718 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 9.0 |
| 2017-18 | 32 | MIN | NBA | PF | 82 | 82 | 33.2 | 5.2 | 9.0 | .577 | 0.1 | 0.4 | .200 | 5.1 | 8.6 | .595 | .581 | 1.7 | 2.3 | .768 | 2.4 | 4.8 | 7.1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 12.2 |
| 2018-19 | 33 | MIN | NBA | PF | 70 | 57 | 24.1 | 4.3 | 7.7 | .566 | 0.2 | 0.5 | .324 | 4.2 | 7.2 | .583 | .576 | 1.9 | 2.5 | .757 | 2.5 | 4.1 | 6.5 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 10.8 |
| Career | NBA | 737 | 384 | 25.9 | 4.1 | 8.0 | .512 | 0.0 | 0.1 | .212 | 4.0 | 7.8 | .517 | .514 | 1.7 | 2.3 | .709 | 2.4 | 4.1 | 6.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 2.6 | 9.8 | |||
| 8 seasons | CHI | NBA | 562 | 229 | 25.2 | 3.9 | 7.8 | .495 | 0.0 | 0.1 | .088 | 3.9 | 7.8 | .498 | .495 | 1.6 | 2.3 | .694 | 2.4 | 4.0 | 6.4 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 9.4 | ||
| 2 seasons | MIN | NBA | 152 | 139 | 29.0 | 4.8 | 8.4 | .572 | 0.1 | 0.5 | .261 | 4.7 | 7.9 | .590 | .579 | 1.8 | 2.4 | .762 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 6.9 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 11.5 | ||
| 1 season | OKC | NBA | 23 | 16 | 21.2 | 3.9 | 7.8 | .497 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.000 | 3.8 | 7.7 | .494 | .500 | 1.2 | 1.7 | .718 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 9.0 |
If Taj Gibson did return he could help bolster the Bulls second unit as well. With the likes of Kris Dunn, Chandler Hutchison, Denzel Valentine, and Taj Gibson, the second unit could see success. Though Taj is almost 34 years old he can still contribute to the Bulls squad just like he has in Minnesota the last two seasons.
Per 36 minutes last year for Minnesota, Taj showed no signs of slowing down.
| Season | Age | Tm | Lg | Pos | G | GS | MP | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | 2P | 2PA | 2P% | FT | FTA | FT% | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 33 | MIN | NBA | PF | 70 | 57 | 1686 | 6.5 | 11.5 | .566 | 0.2 | 0.7 | .324 | 6.3 | 10.7 | .583 | 2.9 | 3.8 | .757 | 3.7 | 6.1 | 9.8 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 4.0 | 16.1 |
Bringing Taj back seems to make sense. Veterans like him can show the young guys the ropes while still playing effectively to help the team win ball games. This move would be beneficial for both sides. Taj could possibly sign his last contract here in Chicago and help this Bulls team grow and compete for a playoff spot.
Who knows, maybe Taj will give us another highlight dunk to talk about, much like these two!
Featured Photo Credit: NBCSportsChicago.Com
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