Top 10 Chicago Bulls of the decade

8. Taj Gibson

Taj Gibson has become widely known for his role as the heart and the soul of the Bulls over the years. He’s proven to be a capable big man that is great for the locker room.

Now in his 10th season, Gibson continues to prove the doubters wrong showing how valuable the mid-range and post-up game are. As his career statistics show, Gibson is averaging 9.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1 assist per game.

Gibson has not always had such a polished offensive skill set. He developed into the athlete he is today after years of hard work. Gibson was drafted by the Bulls in 2009.

Currently, Gibson is a member of the New York Knicks. He also has had stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

One glaring problem is Gibson is under contract with a young, developing team. He would likely fare better alongside more veterans. Such a situation would put Gibson in a position to eye a playoff push.

At age 34, Gibson has a bit left in the tank. He is still more skilled than some big men in the league. Nonetheless, Gibson is surely embracing the mentorship role he’s been afforded so far this season.

While Gibson is not the type of athlete to fill up the stat sheet night after night, he can make up for his offensive limitations by anchoring the defense and doing the little things that otherwise receive little to no recognition.

At the same time, this is not a knock against what he can provide offensively. The analytics and what’s often said of three-point shooting don’t always equate to success. There should always be room in the league for players with Gibson’s skill set, in my opinion.

While some big men are turning to stretch the floor with a touch of three-point shooting, Gibson has largely remained true to his game. It’s working, so why fix something if it’s not broken as they often say.