Taj Gibson has re-joined the New York Knicks, but the big will not make his season debut against one of his former clubs on Friday night, according to Rotoballer.
Signed Thursday, Gibson needs to go through coronavirus protocol before he will be allowed to join the team, Rotoballer reported based on the league injury report.
Gibson played half a season for the Oklahoma City Thunder after a deal at the trade deadline in February 2017.
The Chicago Bulls dealt the Thunder Gibson, Doug McDermott and a 2018 second-round pick in exchange for Cameron Payne, Joffrey Lauvergne and Anthony Morrow. McDermott and that second-round pick were part of the Thunder’s package to the Knicks for Carmelo Anthony.
Gibson averaged 9.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in 21.2 minutes over the 23 regular season games he played for Oklahoma City. He started all five Thunder playoff games and averaged 10 points per contest, including a 20-point performance in a Game 3 win.
He signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves that offseason, reuniting him with his former Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau.
Gibson played for Minnesota for two years before signing with the Knicks last offseason. He was waived in November but brought back aboard Thursday — for another reunion with Thibodeau.
The Thunder and Knicks game is scheduled to tip off at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.