BREAKING: Washington Wizards Reportedly Release 14-Year NBA Veteran

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Washington Wizards have waived 14-year NBA veteran Taj Gibson.

Taj Gibson is coming off a year where he played in 49 regular season games for the Washington Wizards. 

He averaged 3.4 points and 1.9 rebounds per contest while shooting 52.0% from the field and 33.3% from the three-point range.  

This offseason, Gibson re-signed with the Wizards, but Michael Scotto of HoopsHype now reports that the Wizards have waived him.

Via Scotto: "The Washington Wizards have waived Xavier Cooks and Taj Gibson, league sources told @hoopshype."

The Washington Wizards have waived Xavier Cooks and Taj Gibson, league sources told @hoopshype.

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) October 23, 2023

Gibson was initially the 26th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft out of USC.  

He has played 14 seasons in the league for the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City Thunder, New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves.   

Over 945 regular season games, Gibson has career averages of 8.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 steals per contest while shooting 51.8% from the field. 

During the 2011 season, Gibson helped the Bulls reach the Eastern Conference Finals, and he has played in a total of 71 NBA playoff games. 

D-Rose with the handle and dish to Taj Gibson! #NBATogetherLive pic.twitter.com/tqiFplr3Y9

— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2020

Meanwhile, Cooks spent his rookie year with the Wizards (last season) and played in ten games with averages of 3.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest while shooting 60.7% from the field.  

The Wizards have waived Taj Gibson and Xavier Cooks, per @JoshuaBRobbins

They had to cut two players to get down to 15, and GM Will Dawkins sided with youth.

Gibson, 38, & Cooks, 28, will become free agents, while the Wiz will have to eat their remaining salaries for this year pic.twitter.com/GcJCet27U4

— Greg Finberg (@GregFinberg) October 23, 2023

As for the Wizards, they are coming off a year where they were the 12th seed in the Eastern Conference with a 35-47 record. 

Despite a talented roster, they missed the NBA playoffs (and the play-in tournament) for the second straight season. 

On October 25, the Wizards will play their first game of the regular season against the Indiana Pacers (on the road).