Publish date: 2023-12-09

Taj Gibson is a proficient American basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the NBA. He played college basketball for the USC Trojans and was chosen 26th overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2009 NBA Draft. 

The power forward played a 6th man on the bench for the Chicago Bulls after being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2017 and signing with the Minnesota Timberwolves the same year.

Gibson signed with the New York Knicks on July 9, 2019. Due to his poor performance, he wasn’t included in the roster for the 2020/2021 season and was waived on November 19, 2020. However, he was again signed by the Knicks, replacing Omari Spellman. 

After playing a season with the Knicks, Taj showed his interest in playing for the Wizards. As a result, Knicks waived him on July 8, 2022. Later, on July 19, 2022, he signed with the Washington Wizards.

This article includes his early life, education, NBA career, and personal life. So, please stick to the paper to the end. 

Before all that, let’s look into his quick facts.

Quick Facts

Early Life, Family & Education 

Taj Gibson was born on June 24, 1985, in Brooklyn, New York, to supporting parents Wilbert Gibson and Sharon Gibson.

Wilbert’s father is a former U.S. Army national team basketball player. So, the talent and skills seen in his game might have been inherited from his father, who was interested in the game from a very young age. 

He had a tough childhood as his family was not financially stable and could not afford a luxurious lifestyle. 

The athlete’s nationality is American, and he hails from African-American ethnicity. Tej spent his childhood with his brother, Greg “YG” Gibson, and his sister, Jasu Robinson Okai.

The center went to All right Charles A. Dorsey School in the Fortification Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn. 

He began his high school career at the Brooklyn Telecommunications Arts and Technology High School. Before starting at the art college, Tej was a sophomore at Stoneridge Prep in Tarzana, California.

The basketball player went to Calvary Christian high school in San Fernando, California, where he played for his high school basketball team. After graduating high school, Gibson joined Southern California University and played for the college team.

Age, Height & Weight

Gibson is 38 years old with a tremendous athletic figure. He has an impressive 6’9″/2.06 m/206 cm height and weighs 105 kg/232 lb.

Taj is very agile in the game, with a unique physical structure.

With such body measurements, he can move quickly on the court and easily defeat the opposite team. Because of this, he is known as an aggressive defensive player with excellent blocking ability. 

Career

College Career

Gibson began his basketball career in high school. Even in college, the 2.06 m tall player continued his passion for the game.

He joined the University of Southern California, where he was a member of the Philkappa Psi fraternity. 

In 2008, Gibson was selected for the All-Pac-10 All-Freshman team. Then, continuously showcasing his excellent skills, he got the All-Pac-10 Second-team in 2009. 

NBA Career

Gibson was picked 26th overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2009 NBA Draft. He played in the Rookie Challenge during the All-Star Weekend and led the team to victory. Because of this, he was selected to the NBA All-rookie first team.

In 2012, Gibson was named to the U.S. national team for the Olympics. Gibson, alongside Jeremy Lin, DeMarcus Cousins, and Kyrie Irving, practiced with the U.S. Olympic Team in preparation for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. 

He signed a multi-year rookie scale contract with the Bulls on October 31, 2012. Taj averaged 13 points and 6.8 rebounds in the 2013-2014 season. 

The power forward suffered an ankle injury on June 16, 2015, and had to undergo surgery. Because of this, he missed out on games for four months. 

On February 23, 2017, Gibson was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. But his journey with the club ended on July 10, 2017, as he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Gibson had a good time with the Wolves scoring many season-high points against other teams, and his career suddenly rose. He scored 24 points in a 124-118 win over the Orlando Magic on November 22, 2017. 

On July 9, 2019, Gibson joined the New York Knicks. However, he was waived one and a half years after signing the contract on November 19, 2020. After that, however, he was back on the team on January 7, 2021.

He signed with the Washington Wizards on July 19, 2022. 

Injury

Injuries are typical in a sportsperson’s career. Injury and health issues are generally the outcomes of rigorous practice schedules and hours of dedication to the game.

A sportsperson must endure such hardships to shine as the supreme player and show excellent skills on the field. 

Gibson also has had his share of injuries and issues in his basketball career. Gibson suffered a left ankle injury on June 16, 2015, and had to undergo surgery. As a result, he missed games for four months. 

On March 3, 2019, Gibson had a right calf injury. Unfortunately, he injured the same calf on December 23, which kept him out for a month. 

The Washington Wizard forward had to be out of the game due to back spasms on February 27, 2020,

On February 28, 2021, Gibson suffered a left ankle sprain while playing for the Knicks. Later, he was ruled out of the game in November due to a groin injury.

Despite all these injuries and health issues, Gibson has proved to be an excellent player with incredible skills and talents. Hence he is still in the game after playing for so many years. 

Relationship Status

As of 2024, Gibson is single. There has not been any news of his romantic life on the internet. But he had gone through some relationships in the past.

Gibson was in a relationship with Tenille Melissa, and they had a daughter. But in 2019, there was a rumor that the couple had broken up.

As per the report, the couple is no longer together, but Gibson takes care of their daughter.

He was also rumored to be dating Michelle Williams, singer of Destiny Child. But there has been no confirmation on the news. 

Charity Work

Gibson has seen many struggles and hardships with his family while he was young. Now he has all the wealth and fame to live a happy and comfortable life. But this was not always the same for him.

Taj understands the value of money and emotions and believes in giving back to the community. Besides, Gibson has also faced some personal experiences of violence, as his friend Charles Wynn was a victim of gun violence in 2010. 

On July 12, 2017, at a playground in Brooklyn, New York, a 21-year-old woman was killed, and her 3-year-old daughter was left behind. Gibson donated $20,000 to the GoFundMe fundraising program for the child. 

He founded the Taj Gibson Foundation in 2019, which aims to help the underprivileged youth of New York City with the necessary resources and give them a healthy and happy life. 

Many fundraising and donation programs are organized by the foundation to provide for the needs of future athletes and scholars. In addition, sports, clothing, and health reinforcement events are built for a better and healthy society. 

Net Worth

Gibson’s net worth is estimated to be $32 million as of 2024. He signed a 1 year/$2.90 million contract with the Washington Wizards, including an annual salary of $2.90 million. 

He lives extravagant life with his hard-earned money and gives back to society through the foundation and other charity works. 

Awards & Achievements

Gibson has had a fascinating and fulfilling basketball career. He has achieved some awards and titles throughout his years of hard work and dedication. Let’s look into his awards & achievements.

• All-Pac-10  Third-team (2008)
• All-Pac-10 Second-team (2009)
• Defensive Player of the Year Pac-10 (2009)
• First Team NBA All-Rookie  (2010)

Social Media Presence

Gibson is active on both Instagram and Twitter. 

Instagram: 415k followers

Twitter: 317k followers

His social media post primarily includes his professional life, like basketball matches and practice matches. Gibson also likes to share his passion for the game by posting pictures and videos of playing basketball. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

How many seasons has Gibson played?

Gibson has played 13 seasons in the NBA for 5 teams. 

Is Gibson an ALL-Star?

He played in the Rookie Challenge during the All-Star Weekend and led the team to victory. Because of it, he was selected to the NBA All-rookie first team.

What is the current team of Taj Gibson?

Taj Gibson plays for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). 

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