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Farewell to Knicks veteran Taj Gibson and his undeniable positive impact

ByJames Nolan|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 18: Taj Gibson #67 of the New York Knicks reacts as teammates come back to the bench during the second half of the game against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden on March 18, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 18: Taj Gibson #67 of the New York Knicks reacts as teammates come back to the bench during the second half of the game against the Washington Wizards at Madison Square Garden on March 18, 2022 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)

For the past three seasons, the New York Knicks received a great amount of leadership from veteran center Taj Gibson. Although he only played for a limited amount of minutes, his impact on the team couldn’t be denied, especially in the 2020-2021 season.

The presence of Gibson in the locker room certainly benefited New York’s young players. Now, though, the 37-year-old will be playing for a new team, as Shams Charania of The Athletic recently reported that the Knicks waived him. He’s now a member of the Washington Wizards.

The Brooklyn native was great during his limited action on the court, as he added stellar defense and high basketball IQ on the offensive side of the ball. He was a great fill-in starter, especially since the Knicks centers the past few seasons have all dealt with injuries that kept them out for longer periods of time.

Although many fans are likely somewhat hurt by the move, it only made sense for New York to waive Gibson. He had just one year left, and his $5.15 million deal wasn’t guaranteed.

The Knicks also re-signed Mitchell Robinson to a four-year deal along with acquiring Isaiah Hartenstein during free agency. New York also committed to Jericho Sims for three years and he will be filling the third-string center role.

The timing of waiving Gibson’s contract makes sense, as the Knicks are hoping to contend for a playoff spot with their other moves.

Taj Gibson left an impact on the Knicks’ younger players

During the three years Gibson spent in New York, he played a huge role in the locker room mentoring the younger players. Many times during the eventful 2020-2021 season, Gibson would check in to settle things down. Oftentimes when he hit the court, the defense was rock solid and there were minimal mistakes made.

The Knicks’ roster was filled with young talent during Gibson’s tenure. His presence left an impact, as he is a big reason why the team’s young core meshes so well together. Their chemistry cannot be denied and some of the credit for that goes to Gibson.

New York’s brightest young star, RJ Barrett, has had Gibson as a teammate since he was drafted in 2019. Although Gibson was only with the Knicks for three seasons, he was there for the most important years of Barrett’s career. Barrett has described Gibson’s leadership tangibles on many occasions.

Gibson brought energy to the Knicks’ roster. Even at his age and with all his accomplishments in the league, he still gave it his all every single night. When the younger players on the roster see that, it inspires them to do the same. He showed his teammates what it meant to be playing for a franchise like the New York Knicks.

Playing in New York is hard enough. The fans are tough on the players and have high expectations, and the media is always generating headlines to stir things up. Having a guy like Gibson in the locker room as a mentor was necessary, but the time to let him go came.

Knicks fans are hoping for the best for the 14-year veteran out in Washington, D.C. He left behind a great mark on New York’s roster. Taj Gibson will always hold a place in the hearts of Knicks fans.

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