Taj Gibson, at the seasoned age of 40, makes his return to the National Basketball Association.
A seasoned professional with 16 years of experience in the NBA, Gibson has reportedly reached an agreement with the Memphis Grizzlies, as per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Should he participate in a match, he is anticipated to become only the 35th individual in the league’s existence to compete at the age of 40 or beyond.
Throughout the current season, Gibson has not been active in the NBA. During the previous season, his playing time with the Charlotte Hornets was infrequent, where he averaged 2.9 points and 11.1 minutes per contest over 37 appearances, including 11 starts.
From Gibson’s 2009 draft cohort, the sole other athletes who have participated in games this season are Stephen Curry, James Harden, Jrue Holiday, and DeMar DeRozan.
Gibson is set to become part of a Grizzlies squad presently positioned 11th in the Western Conference standings with a 21-36 record. Trailing the 10th-ranked Los Angeles Clippers by six victories for the last play-in tournament position, the team appears to be prioritizing long-term prospects over immediate seasonal results. Consequently, Gibson’s presence will provide a seasoned mentor for their developing roster members.
Regarding the highly anticipated 2026 NBA Draft, the Grizzlies share the seventh-lowest standing in the NBA alongside the Dallas Mavericks.