Taj Gibson has been in a whirlwind. On Monday, Gibson announced his retirement after 17 seasons. Then, he was brought on as a Chicago Bulls assistant coach under head coach Tiago Splitter.
Gibson, who played in Chicago from 2009 to 2017, is soaking it all in. And that includes paying tribute to the late former player and broadcaster Stacey King.
On Tuesday, Gibson paid homage to King, whom he called an âÂÂuncle,' per 104. 3 The Score.
âÂÂStacey's like an uncle to me,â Gibson says. âÂÂThat's how solid he was for me.âÂÂ
King passed away at 59 in June from cardiovascular disease and obesity. His unexpected passing left a huge void in the Bulls family given how widely beloved he was as a player and broadcaster.
King was on the call during Gibson's run as a player.
Gibson arrived in Chicago just as the organization was taking a huge turn. A huge gap existed between the end of the dynasty years and when Derrick Rose was drafted. During that gap, Chicago was a virtual wasteland in the NBA.
Then, Gibson, Rose, Joakim Noah, Jimmy Butler, and others brought the team back to life. They made the postseason six times during his eight seasons. These were the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals and the 2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
King was in the broadcast booth doing what he did best every step of the way.
Gibson also said King would check in with him even as he played for other teams.
The loss remains evident, but the legacy will never fade.

