Gibson adjusts to life as senior Bulls player
Taj Gibson's first NBA game was on Oct. 29, 2009. He contributed 6 points in 16 minutes as the Bulls beat San Antonio in their season opener.
Of the 13 players on the Bulls' roster that night, Gibson is the only one left. When Derrick Rose was traded and Joakim Noah left as a free agent this summer, Gibson officially became the longest-tenured Bull at age 31.
Asked if it feels strange, Gibson talked more about missing a few friends who had been with him a long time.
"Those guys are family," Gibson said Friday. "At the end of the day, it's a business. I'm happy they're all where they want to be. And I'm happy with how their careers are moving on.
"But right now, I just have to focus on my team and what's ahead of us. I'm still here. I have to focus on the guys who are here. All positive vibes so far in training camp, so I can't dwell on previous years."
Gibson is not the oldest player on the Bulls' roster. Dwyane Wade, 34, holds that distinction. Rajon Rondo is just eight months younger, so Gibson doesn't have any pressure to be more of a leader than he has already been.
During the first week of training camp, Gibson confirmed the two veteran newcomers haven't been afraid to take charge in practice.
"It's great. Everybody just shuts up and listens," he said. "We just go from one drill to the next, one play to the next. They always key in and give their advice. They make you want to play even harder."
If there's one trait that has defined Gibson's seven seasons with the Bulls, it's his willingness to take on any role. He became a starter almost right away as a rookie when Tyrus Thomas went out with a broken arm. The Brooklyn native came off the bench most of his career until starting 55 of 73 games last season.
His role this season remains unknown. Gibson, who is in the final year of his contract, could start at power forward next to Robin Lopez, or he could back up Lopez at center.
Ultimately, Gibson's role likely will depend on how much playing time younger guys such as Nikola Mirotic, Bobby Portis and Cristiano Felicio earn.
"I'm comfortable at 5. Coach lets me handle the ball. Coach lets me do what I really want to do," Gibson said. "He tells me every day in practice to shoot the ball. I'm just having fun. The young guys are great. Bobby is a lot better. We're pushing each other."
Coach Fred Hoiberg has said the power forward spot is wide open and the Bulls will test several options in preseason. It's probably the only starting spot that's in question, with Wade, Rondo, Jimmy Butler and Lopez pretty much locked in.
"Taj has been great," Hoiberg said. "He's one of those guys that goes out and does everything that you ask of him. He's in great spirits."
Gibson said Hoiberg has been a vocal force in practice so far, cursing more often and challenging players to give more. Overall, Gibson believes the radical changes have been good for the Bulls.
"I would say so. Because the vibe now is a bunch of veterans that want to win and then you've got a lot of young guys who want to prove themselves, but they want to win also," Gibson said. "It's all going hand in hand.
"The coaching staff really doesn't need to say much because before you know it, every time I turn around, D-Wade is stopping the play and cursing guys out as well. And it's great. The young guys understand it. They're still coming early, still staying late, and they understand what they need to do."
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