Draymond GreenForward, Golden State Warriors

Draymond Green Pays Tribute to Taj Gibson Following 17-Year NBA Career

19 Sept 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

1:11

In this brief spoken tribute, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green congratulates former NBA forward Taj Gibson on his retirement and his new role as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls under Tiago Splitter. Green recounts their long‑standing rivalry that began in college when Michigan State faced USC, noting that he often guarded Gibson and that Gibson developed a playful “vendetta” against him. He references other players involved in those early matchups—DeMar DeRozan, Goran Sutan, Jermaine O'Neal, and Joakim Noah—highlighting the competitive intensity and mutual respect that defined their careers. Green mixes humor with genuine admiration, calling Gibson “one of the nicest people” and a “toughest guard” he ever faced, and ends with a heartfelt congratulations on Gibson’s career and future coaching endeavors.

Chapters

Taj Gibson announced his retirement from the NBA and is returning to the Bulls as an assistant coach on Tiago Splitter's staff. Taj Gibson is one of the very few players in my career that I asked to switch off of. Me and Taj Gibson had history prior to the NBA. Taj Gibson, along with DeMar DeRozan, I ended their college careers. They were at USC. I was at Michigan State. I was a freshman. Goran Sutan was our starting center. He got in foul trouble that game. And so in turn, I had to guard Taj more than I probably would have in that game. I gave that brother fits. I think once I got to the NBA, he had like this inside anger vendetta towards me. And if you know Taj, Taj is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. It's like a switch flips. He's one of my toughest guards that I've ever had to deal with in my career. I asked Jermaine O'Neal, J-O, please switch with me. I'm gonna go guard Joakim Noah. You please guard Taj Gibson. I cannot get a stop. So needless to say, Taj, congrats on a great career. It was a pleasure to compete against you. I wish you didn't have that little vendetta against me from college and bust my ass in the NBA, but happens to the best of 'em. Big dog. Appreciate you, man. Cheers to an incredible retirement, brother.