The Grizzlies season just took one of the strangest plot twists of the entire NBA year. At age 40, Taj Gibson is coming out of retirement and reached an agreement with the Grizzlies.
Taj Gibson had previously made his last NBA appearance on April 13 against the Boston Celtics, and now he is back in the league after previously going unsigned. The timing of this is just super odd to say the least. Having lost seven of the last eight games, the Grizzlies are certainly headed towards picking in the lottery.
The return: Taj Gibson has agreed on a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies, Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tells ESPN. At 40 years old, Gibson is back in the NBA for his 17th season – a big man regarded as a consummate leader and professional over his career. pic.twitter.com/Zo9mQ5KoL7
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 26, 2026
Gibson is the latest vet addition on this young Grizzlies roster
It is clear that the Grizzlies need more veterans on the team, especially now that Kyle Anderson has also reached a buyout with the team and will go to Minnesota. Given that the Grizzlies have multiple players they need to give extended evaluations the rest of the season, it is likely that Taj Gibson won't play very much.
Gibson only played 11.1 minutes per game last season for the Charlotte Hornets. It is possible he could play a similar amount of minutes until the Grizzlies' frontcourt gets closer to full strength. Zach Edey, Brandon Clarke, and Santi Aldama are all recovering from injuries. For a Grizzlies team that currently lacks available size, Gibson could be a quick stopgap to fill some of the frontcourt minutes. However, he will not be a crucial rotation piece even with how shorthanded the Grizzlies are right now.
The Grizzlies are clearly not trying to win games this season, and the Taj Gibson signing perfectly reflects that. However, his veteran leadership could potentially be a great asset for a Grizzlies roster that consists of many players on their first contracts. The Grizzlies need as many veteran voices as possible in the beginning stages of their new rebuild.
Gibson will be entering his 17th season in the NBA and has appeared in over 1000 NBA games. He also previously made it on the NBA All-Rookie Team back in 2010. For his career, Gibson is averaging 8.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and a block per game. Gibson has a long and productive career, but he is clearly past his best days.
The Memphis Grizzlies have a clear focus on a stacked 2026 NBA Draft and will do anything they can to maximize their chances at the best pick possible. Despite going unsigned this whole time, it will be interesting to see how Taj Gibson's 17th season actually plays out in Memphis.