Taj Gibson | ROC Solid w/ Memphis Bleek

Summary

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ROC Solid w/ Memphis Bleek

Taj Gibson | Episode Summary

Release Date: July 7, 2026
Host: Memphis Bleek
Guest: Taj Gibson (NBA veteran, Brooklyn native)

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Episode Overview

This episode of "ROC Solid" features a raw and heartfelt conversation between Memphis Bleek and NBA veteran Taj Gibson. The two Brooklyn natives dig deep into Gibson’s journey from the Fort Greene Projects to an accomplished professional basketball career, discuss the impact of street culture, transitioning through tough times in the NBA, community work, and building generational wealth. Throughout, the tone is open, genuine, and laced with humor, respect, and love for NYC.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Childhood & Fort Greene Roots (03:47–07:47)

• Taj’s Upbringing: Taj describes growing up in Fort Greene as “amazing, chaotic and crazy, but amazing at the same time.” He paints a vivid picture of project life, where everyone watched out for each other and the social fabric was tight-knit.

• Quote:

  "You can come outside, you can get beat up, have fun all in the same day, you know what I’m saying? That’s what made the projects so special... Everybody was outside."
  — Taj Gibson (04:04)

• Changes in New York: The hosts reminisce about how the city changed, blaming policies (“Bloomberg did that man with the no loitering law...”) for breaking up the outdoor project culture.

2. Basketball as Salvation & Early Career Choices (04:41–08:53)

• Turning Point: Taj recalls realizing that basketball was his escape after growing too tall and getting tired of biking across Brooklyn:

  “I just can’t do this no more, y’. I’m too tall for this... I seen a few guys playing three on three, and I just jumped in and that was my last time riding those bikes.”
  — Taj Gibson (05:25)

• Education & Transition: Discusses struggles in the public education system and the crucial moment his family and coaches decided to send him to California for better opportunities, where he faced new challenges and experienced a different spectrum of “hoods.”

3. USC & the College Experience (07:54–08:53)

• Adjustment: Taj shares his initial intimidation entering USC, feeling out of place but being determined to push through for his parents.
• On Playing for USC:

  “The college life, it was scary... the longer I stayed in college was mainly for my parents... when I got that call to go to the league, it was like, I’m outta here.”
  — Taj Gibson (07:58)

4. Entering the NBA: The Bulls Years and LeBron Rivalry (08:53–11:51)

• Drafted by Chicago Bulls: Taj recounts the surreal experience of donning the Bulls jersey, walking into the same locker room as Michael Jordan.
• Legendary Bulls Teams: Talks about being part of a tough, hard-nosed team under coach Tom Thibodeau.
• Battling LeBron James:

  “I was just so blessed to be able to just play against Bron in his prime and say, I tried my best, but he was just top... one of the goats of our game.”
  — Taj Gibson (11:19)

5. Toughest Opponents and NBA Brotherhood (12:59–14:06)

• Draymond Green:

  “He’s a guy that can guard one through five. Like, he’s different. He’s real different.”
  — Taj Gibson (13:19)

• Gibson values fierce competitors, simultaneously admiring and respecting their grit.

6. Work Ethic, Early Jobs, and Staying Grounded (14:09–16:13)

• Early Brooklyn Hustle: Summers working moving jobs in Brooklyn with ex-cons and new immigrants taught Taj humility and drive.
• Quote:

  “I used to be on the line with them. And my dad... he didn’t care if he was in charge or not. So every day... I was like, oh, I don’t like this feeling... That really humbled me.”
  — Taj Gibson (15:42)

7. Community Work and Giving Back (16:20–16:53; 32:53–33:39)

• Basketball Clinics: Taj is actively involved in youth basketball clinics and projects throughout Fort Greene and Farragut, aiming to keep kids connected and inspired.

• Quote:

  “We just support that in any way we can. All the way up from Myrtle... we all connected. We just tried to stay consistent in downtown Brooklyn.”
  — Taj Gibson (16:20)

• Upcoming Projects: He’s focused on real estate initiatives and remodeling the local Boys & Girls Club to bring technology and resources to the neighborhood.

8. The NBA Today: Stars, Culture Shifts & American Players (20:24–23:05)

• Rise of International Stars: Bleek brings up the shift toward international dominance in the NBA. Taj credits local NYC talent, especially the Knicks’ resurgence and American core.
• On NYC Basketball Vibe:

  “The vibe is back in New York... Whoever said New York ain’t it no more, you lied. Cause the vibe is back.”
  — Memphis Bleek (23:05)

9. The Mental Game: Trades, Transitions, and Longevity (24:04–28:38)

• Hardest Challenge: Taj describes being traded as “mentally... it shook me up. How cold the business can be.”

  “All these memories I had... it’s done. Next you know, you’re on a plane going somewhere else.”
  — Taj Gibson (24:42)

• Staying Valuable: He discusses evolving his mindset, learning from veterans (notably Kobe Bryant’s mentorship and advice to "stay on your path"), and maintaining work ethic.

• Advice to Young Players: He positions himself as an “uncle”-like figure, stressing the importance of listening, loving the game, and learning from every experience—even setbacks.

10. Wisdom on Mentorship and Youth (28:38–31:10)

• OG Lessons: Both discuss how today’s kids need to “bump their heads” sometimes but stress the value of community elders and passing knowledge down:

  “I stand on love. I stand on being there for my teammates. And it always come back.”
  — Taj Gibson (28:43)

11. Perspective on Modern Youth Culture (30:42–31:24)

• Taj and Bleek joke about the generational gap in how parties and dancing have changed:

  “The young boys invented dances... you don’t dance with no bitches now.”
  — Memphis Bleek (30:46)
  “Well, one thing about the barbecue, the family barbecue, always lets you know who’s sturdy or not.”
  — Taj Gibson (31:16)

12. Building Beyond Basketball: Real Estate & Wealth (31:56–33:39)

• Next Moves: Taj details his excitement about investments in Brooklyn real estate, building long-term wealth, and involving friends and partners from the community.
• New Boys & Girls Club:

  “Bringing positivity and leaving all the negativity out, repurposing the whole public school, bringing more awareness and more technology to downtown Brooklyn.”
  — Taj Gibson (32:53)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Projects:

  “Everybody was outside. Like, that’s the only thing I miss about old New York.”
  — Taj Gibson (04:09)

• On Role Models:

  “When you good, they gonna find a way to make sure you successful. And I’ll be honest with you, my grades wasn’t all the way there. That’s crazy.”
  — Taj Gibson (06:39)

• On Competing with LeBron:

  “I tried my best, but he was just top. He’s like, I go to one of the goats of our game.”
  — Taj Gibson (11:19)

• On Community:

  “Shout out to all the guys at BRS. That company is still downtown Brooklyn. They still got a lot of... guys from the project... just coming home from prison. Shout out to them.”
  — Taj Gibson (15:43)

• On Staying Ready:

  “You gotta have some kind of moral stand on something. That’s why I stand on charge more... I stand on love. I stand on being there for my teammates.”
  — Taj Gibson (28:43)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Fort Greene & NYC Memories — 03:47–07:47
• Early Basketball Pivot — 04:41–05:49
• College Transition (USC Era) — 07:54–08:53
• NBA Draft & Bulls Memories — 08:53–10:53
• Battling LeBron & NBA Brotherhood — 11:19–12:59
• Work Ethic & Brooklyn Hustle — 14:09–16:13
• Community Engagement — 16:20–16:53, 32:53–33:39
• Modern NBA, Knicks, Local Stars — 20:24–23:05
• Biggest Career Challenge: Being Traded — 24:04–24:57
• Veteran Mindset & Longevity — 25:39–28:38
• Advice to Next Generation — 28:38–31:10
• Real Estate & Future Plans — 31:56–33:39

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Conclusion

This episode delivers a rich, authentic portrait of Taj Gibson’s journey from the Brooklyn streets to NBA longevity and community leadership. It's a must-listen (or read) for anyone interested in the intersection of street culture, professional sports, resilience, and giving back.

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Transcript

[Taj Gibson]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Memphis Bleak]

What up y'?

[Target Advertisement Voiceover]

All?

[Memphis Bleak]

This your main man? Memphis Bleak right here. Welcome to Rock Solid, a production of iHeartRadio and the Black Effect Network in partnership with my guys over at Drink Champs. Yeah, y', all, you already know what it is. Yours truly back with another exclusive episode. Rock solid podcast live at the Vote. And this one is a special episode, y'.

[Taj Gibson]

All.

[Memphis Bleak]

Cause we got a legend in the building. Straight from Brooklyn, from Fork Green Projects. Ball player. When you know, we talk about balling a lot, but this is real balling. Balling on both sides of the court. Yeah, I mean, really from the trenches, man. Let's welcome. My God, tg, You know him as Taj Gibson in the Mother Building right now, bro.

[Taj Gibson]

Please. Pleasure, Pleasure. Pleasure.

[Memphis Bleak]

Man, before we get into. I gotta shout my guy Miz and Kent day out out there for. You know what it is. Mask my peoples. Cause you from the town. My guy is insane. I love it, man.

[Taj Gibson]

Definitely.

[Memphis Bleak]

So, Y. Take me back to back in the day. Like Fort Green for you. Coming up. What was it like for you?

[Taj Gibson]

It was amazing. It was chaotic and crazy, but amazing at the same time.

[Memphis Bleak]

Talk about it. Them hood days was different, my G.

[Taj Gibson]

Like, you know what I'm saying? You can come outside, you can get beat up, have fun all in the same day, you know what I'm saying? That's what made the project so special. Like, everybody watched everybody. Everybody seen everybody grow up. I was just so special about it. Everybody was outside. Like, that's the only thing I miss about old New York. Everybody was outside.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, I blame. I ain't gonna lie, man. Bloomberg did that man with the no laudering when he came in, became the mayor with the loitering law. He got every. He packed everybody. Yeah, that's a body.

[Taj Gibson]

Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

They only let Dyckman hang outside now.

[Taj Gibson]

They getting. They getting after them too, now.

[Interviewer/Host]

Word.

[Memphis Bleak]

But, yo, basketball almost wasn't the path. I heard or I read somewhere that almost wasn't the path. When did you realize that, like, the game could really change your life?

[Taj Gibson]

Well, it happened, I think, when I got around, like, 11, 12 years old. We used to always take the bikes and, you know, we would ride across the city. Like, take Brooklyn Bridge ride all the way to the Bronx, like, 20, 30 deep. We used to do that all the time. And then as time went on, you fall a lot. Like, you hurting yourself a lot. Now I started getting like 6, 7, 6, 7, 6, 8. And I fell one more time. And it was right before J Street. And we was coming off that curb right there on Tillery. I just can't do this no more, y'.

[Interviewer/Host]

All.

[Taj Gibson]

For real. I really sat back and I was like. I had like, at least two, three hoodies on. Cause it was freezing. I was like, yo, I looked down on my feet. I was like, I can't do this no more, y'. All. I'm too tall for this. They looked at me like, that's when life really hit me. And I was like, as soon as I got back to the hood, I seen a few guys playing three on three, and I just jumped in and that was my last time riding those bikes all the way across the city. And I learned my lesson.

[Memphis Bleak]

And that's what's up, man. From there, man. Usc, man. I mean, what was that like, man? The college life. We was talking off camera. I was talking to your peoples. You know what I mean? They ain't know we was special ed babies. He said, You ain't no special ed baby. We know that.

[Taj Gibson]

Oh, man, the stories we could tell about downtown Brooklyn and the public education system we got hours to talk about. But, yo, word.

[Memphis Bleak]

Wait, wait, wait. I just skipped some before we get into that. You went to Weston House, right?

[Taj Gibson]

No, I went to telecommunications for one year.

[Memphis Bleak]

You went to school. You know, got the peoples from the hood free the homie face, you know what I mean? My nigga Baba Louie. You went to school with them, right?

[Taj Gibson]

Yeah, my zone school was Eastern District. And I remember the New York Gauchos taking me out, and they was trying to educate me on just transitioning me to Rice High School. So they was trying to just bust me all the way uptown so that didn't fall through. Borderbed was like, yo, we got this school for you. And the whole thing with basketball is, when you good, they gonna find a way to make sure you successful. And I'll be honest with you, my grades wasn't all the way there. That's crazy.

[Memphis Bleak]

I went to Easton, too, man.

[Taj Gibson]

Word. That was my zone school, and I was excited to go there. But my mom and the way how Brooklyn is, she was like, no, you can't go. Cause my junior high school was 117, and I used to go to LG every day.

[Guest or Additional Speaker]

Yeah.

[Taj Gibson]

And once you. Once you break, make it through that little neck of the woods, that becomes family. I was. I was ready to go. And my mom's like, nah, you can't. No, we gotta ship you. I'm gonna ship you away. And God, just like, yo, we gonna get you up out of here. They sent me to California. Oh, wow, that's dope. That's. And I thought that would have been even. Even better. But when they sent me to Cali, I went right into another whole nother different spectrum of this hoods, yo, straight up.

[Memphis Bleak]

And that's how I felt my first time in LA too, is like, yo, wait a minute. These niggas is banging out here for real.

[Taj Gibson]

Next level, for real.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like, nah, that's dope. So then USC experience, man, what was that like?

[Taj Gibson]

The college life, it was scary, you know what I'm saying? I was real scared. Like, be honest with you, I didn't. I didn't have many friends and it was a new spectrum of life. I didn't really see too many Caucasians and different people like that. And just going to college, the first five, the first four weeks, you just overwhelmed a little bit. I'm like, I'm here. It was tough to get here, but I'm here. And luckily for me, I had like a few homies from back and forth. Green shout out. My brother Sheik, he definitely pulled up for the whole ride with me. That's what's up. Yeah, it was a special ride. I made it through. I've really. The longer I stayed in college was mainly before my parents. They wanted me to finish close to finishing. And when I got that call to go to the league, it was like, I'm outta here. That was just. God, that was just life. Life just always. Each time, life just, always just grabs hold of you and just like, it's time to go. Just say it's over with.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah, man, we was talking too. I was talking to your team. You know that, man, the Bulls, 2009, drafted. Being from Brooklyn, I know that had to feel like the ultimate dream come true. Famous, like, take us to that time. Cause I, you know, I watch it on ESPN every year, bro. I watch the draft every year. I never knew no one that actually went there, like, where I knew them. And I, I didn't know you. But you knew my peoples. We knew the same people. So I felt like I knew you. Yeah, you know what I mean? And I was talking to her. I didn't even know you was from Brooklyn till a little later. Because at first, when you got drafted, I'm gonna let you talk. Talk to dude, I'll let you talk. I'm gonna tell you my drama at first, before I found out we was connected. Bulls. How was that life, man?

[Taj Gibson]

Well, it was amazing, really. Just seeing that red and white, those colors just call your name. It was special. First thing you think of is Michael Jordan wearing the same jersey, going to the Sling locker room, eating the same stuff that he once had a chance to do. So it was Just all special for me.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's what's up, man. Y' all had an ill team, man. D. Rose, Noah, Luau, Dang. That was my man. I fucked with Lou.

[Taj Gibson]

That's my Tib.

[Memphis Bleak]

Lou was my nigga. Y' all was the first ones running with Tibbs, man. What was that like? Cause you know Tibbs get a lot of heat out here. Say he don't use his bench.

[Taj Gibson]

Well, he just, he just taught for me personally. He just taught just me how to just be a tough minded man. Just tough minded. Be there for your teammates. Always ready to go swing on somebody for your teammates, definitely. Like, that's how. That's the type of time you have to be like. And it becomes a brotherhood. And then others around you, others like that go against you like your counterparts. Everybody respects that because that's how you kind of want to be received. You know what I'm saying? But you just want to be one of those hard nerve kind of hard nose kind of players. And that's even where you want to be. Hard nose. Everybody want to have that. That, that's that stigma to them.

[Memphis Bleak]

So that's definitely on demon time on the court. You ain't know it was on some major bullshit volley, yo, and this is what I'm saying. Cause, you know, I knew Braun before he got into the league, you know, with World Wild west being in the studio with us HOV and all that. So I had a relationship with him. And y' all battles, I used to be so heated. Like, these niggas really tried to thug broad. Now like they fat, man.

[Taj Gibson]

It was a special time. I, I'm, I was just so blessed to be able to just play against Bron in his prom and say, I, I tried my best, but he was just top. He's like, I go to one of the goats of our game and I was just blessed to be in that position. And like you said, we just got. We just so connected, man. That's his God. The whole time I was just like admiring from the side, like, damn, I want to be like, bleak one day. Maybe if I can just get it out of here. Maybe if I just go. It's hard, but that's when you believe in what you believe in. God will take you there for real. He really do wonders with your life.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's crazy to hear you say that, bro. Because every kid will want to be you, like, go to the league. That's. Oh, come on. Being from the urban community, that's our first dream is, yo, I'm be A basketball player. You know, a lot of us fall short, but you really did it. Coming from the real trenches for green projects. Mass of one, I could take seven pedals on my bike from Marcy and I'm there like you. You feel me? Like, I had to go. Like, this is another thing, farming the deli. You have to risk your life first. If you wasn't respected or connected, you wasn't going to form in the deli. You probably could go today because they tick tocked it. But back then, that's what I'm saying, that projects was serious, bro. So to make it from that to. To where you made it, man, it's a major blessing, bro. Word up. This is a question me I wanted to ask. Who would you say was the toughest opponent besides, like, you gave bronze price. But who would you say you hated facing and you like, man, I hate playing this.

[Taj Gibson]

There's so many, so many, so many. But it would be Dre, man. Draymond Green. That's. I got the utmost respect for him. Like, he's like, we just like, when you play against guys like that, you want to fight them, but then again, if you on the team with him, you just like, want to embrace him.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Taj Gibson]

And I got a lot of respect from him. Even in. In college when I played against the mad when he was a freshman, I was like, damn, this kid is going to be some. And each battle, I just appreciate it. And he was just tough. He's a guy that can guard one through five. Like, he's different. He's real different.

[Memphis Bleak]

I just ran down on him at roots picnic, told him the same thing. Yo, you violated Braun gonna go get kd. He's like, bleak. It had to be done, though. If it wasn't us, then who? I could I even have an answer. It was like, damn, I need a brawl with me. We the jump that yo, yo, from one thing that's been always said about you, from your rookie year through your teammates, coaches and everything, work ethic, they always say you've been on top of your game and everything. Even the homies was just saying that, yo, when he come through, you gonna see he where he in shape. He work out all the time.

[Taj Gibson]

Yeah.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like, what's your motivation behind that?

[Taj Gibson]

Well, to be honest with you, growing up in Brooklyn, I used to go. It was a moving company downtown Brooklyn called brs. And I used to work there every summer from like the age of like 10 all the way to like 15, even when I'm like 6, 9, 6 8. I'm working on the chain gang with Hispanics, Mexican essays, who really don't have any paperwork. And I'm really in the tunnels with them every time. And that really like struck a nerve. It really humbled me. Cause each time they used to get paid on the side and the whole Fort Greene used to work in there. So we used to really be riding the bus, riding the trucks all the way to the back of Farragut, we to hang out. And I used to see this every day. And that just gave me a whole new. Just distinct on this how really hard I gotta go. Cause even one day they sent me home. I remember. Cause this job is not like any other job. When I'm moving to companies, moving companies, they get all workers from like guys who did time in jail, guys who did really serious time and messed up. So I used to be on the line with them. And my dad, he used to be a carpenter. So he used to make sure I went through that process. He didn't care if he was in charge or not. So every day I had. It was a Caucasian old man. He used to be at the top of the hill, big old desk and everything. He used to be sitting there like call out names. And one day he didn't call my name. He's I sent you home. He said, you can pack up, go get on the line with them. I was like, oh, I don't like this feeling. I don't like this feeling. Word up.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact.

[Taj Gibson]

God rest his soul. Thank you for the, the education. But I remember one day the. The essays, like papi, they was like, you don't want to do this. You don't want to do this, Bobby. You got something to do with your life now. And I never look back. Rest. Shout out to all the guys at brs. That company is still downtown Brooklyn. They still got a lot of. Got a lot of guys from the, from the project. A lot of guys from. From Come just home, just coming home from prison. Shout out to them and yeah, that's for real.

[Memphis Bleak]

What's up? You got some youth, some youth basketball leagues popping off too down the way and right. Tell them man. Speak on it.

[Taj Gibson]

Yeah, we do a lot of youth basketball clinics down in Fort Green. We try to do it in Farragut. We consistent almost every year. Shout out to main event. We involved with that. It's a project, whole assignment with guys from Farragut, downtown Brooklyn. And we just supporting that any way we can. All the way up from Myrtle, all the way up to Myrtle and Broadway. That's we did. From Marcy Tompkins, Sumner. Our families and every last one of them. We all connected. We just tried to stay consistent in downtown Brooklyn.

[Memphis Bleak]

Awkward time to ask this, but.

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[Taj Gibson]

No, I don't need to.

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[Taj Gibson]

I'm trusting T Mobile.

[Hoda Kotb]

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[Taj Gibson]

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[Guest or Additional Speaker]

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[Memphis Bleak]

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Visit t mobile.com hey, I'm Hoda Kotb, host of the podcast Joy 101 with Hoda Kotb. Okay, if you know me, you know this. I'm always searching for inspiration, for support and and useful tools to help maximize joy. So this podcast lets us uncover all of that together. We're going to have these meaningful conversations with the world's most fascinating people. Like when actress Olivia Munn shared how she overcame fierce health challenges that she never saw coming.

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[Taj Gibson]

There was something about gymnastics that was intoxicating to me. It's given me a belief that we all have one of those treasures inside of us. We just have to find it.

[Hoda Kotb]

Listen to Joy 101 with Hoda Kotb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get Your podcasts.

[Jonas Brothers]

Hey everybody, it's the Jonas Brothers this

[Guest or Additional Speaker]

week on the podcast. Hey Jonas. We're so excited to be hanging out with Mika Abdallah from the hit show Off. Congratulations on the massive show and massive success. Got through about episode five. I left the next morning to go meet the guys. Came back, was like cool, let's pick up where we left off. And that series had been completed without me. Oh no.

[Mika Abdallah]

That's like the number one rule of watching some. It's literally cheating. Like that's crazy.

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We talk about what it's been like watching the show become such a massive hit. What's next for season two and just how close the off campus cast really is.

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We're genuinely so close to.

[Jonas Brothers]

What's the group chat called? If you can say if it's allowed to be said on the on pod,

[Taj Gibson]

it's a great question.

[Mika Abdallah]

One of them is off campus Brazil.

[Jonas Brothers]

Okay. Love it. Shout out Brazil.

[Mika Abdallah]

Shout out Brazil. And then the boys have their own group chat called Dean's.

[Guest or Additional Speaker]

Our conversation with Mika Abdallah is out now.

[Jonas Brothers]

Go check it out. Listen to hey Jonas. And the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

[Interviewer/Host]

Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. Now I was looking for fun ways to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited Premium Wireless for $15 a month is back. So I thought it would be fun if we made $15 bills but it turns out that's very illegal. So there goes my big idea for the commercial. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment

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[Memphis Bleak]

That's what's up man. And I ain't go front. We need more ball players from. Cause if you look at the NBA now, man, I wanted to ask you too. Cause from my perspective, it's a overseas star driven league now. There's not really too many stars from us SOYU anymore. How you feel about that?

[Taj Gibson]

I say look at the Knicks, baby. Shout out to the Knicks.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right. That's right. Shout out to Knicks through and through.

[Taj Gibson]

I was blessed to wear the jersey. That's my family. We changed the whole culture and we finally got it done this year. Just look at the Knicks. We got star power on the Knicks. You can say whatever you want. Jalen Brunson Called Towns. They from the town.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's right.

[Taj Gibson]

They from New York State. They from Philly, New York. That. That star power right there alone. Just gonna show you. Cause we shook the league. You look at the Knicks then how much star power they bought, how much

[Memphis Bleak]

viewers we bought to this.

[Taj Gibson]

We shut it down.

[Memphis Bleak]

We shut down all the stars.

[Taj Gibson]

You know what I'm saying?

[Memphis Bleak]

I wanted them. I ain't gonna lie. I'm glad we got the spurs up out of there. But I wanted us to play okc, man. I wanted to sp.

[Taj Gibson]

I want to eat a team. Because I felt like. I just felt like OG and the guys has just been proven. Like, it's nothing like playing in New York City and going. Cause I'm be honest with you. Waking up. You gonna hear. You gonna hear the truck drivers. You gonna hear the Gobblesman. You gonna hear the dude making the bacon eggs.

[Memphis Bleak]

He's gonna tell you, yo, why you miss that layup? F. Why you. Yo, that's one thing.

[Taj Gibson]

They gonna pick the tab up. They gonna be like, yo, what's going on? You all right? Here, here, here. Get some more steak. Whatever you need to do. Get your mind right. It all worked out. I'm so proud of the now.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's New York getting it done. Man, 53 years is 54 years. It's insane. I wasn't even alive when they won the chip. I came five years after. So to see it done now, it was something I never thought I would see. But if you really look at it, what you off my question and how you answered it, that might be the only team with all American players on it. And I never thought about that until you just said that. Yeah, like, word up.

[Interviewer/Host]

Yeah.

[Taj Gibson]

Starting five. Yeah, a whole.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like everybody else is. And I went to dinner with. With Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, and they said, yo, once, LJ once. Braun, KD, Curry, Harden. Once them guys retire. He was like, man, it's gonna be a rough race for us in the. In the USA and Olympics. He was like, I don't think we gonna win for a minute because we don't got no shooters.

[Taj Gibson]

Well, one thing about us, never count us out.

[Kohler Ambassador]

You see?

[Taj Gibson]

New York, never count us out, baby. It's gonna be a good summer. You can. If you can feel it. New York, feel it.

[Memphis Bleak]

The vibe is back in New York. Whoever said New York ain't it no more, you lied. Cause the vibe is back. And so this summer and ny, I ain't gonna lie. Might be one of niggas. They asked me what summer what year? It might be 2026, man. My. My take over 1998. Because to me, 1998 was my favorite era of New York City.

[Taj Gibson]

Okay? So basically, he gave him the. He's popping out for Marcy Day, y'.

[Interviewer/Host]

All.

[Taj Gibson]

He's popping out for Marty Day.

[Memphis Bleak]

I hope they have Marcy Day this year. They canceled it last year. Word. I hope they have it this year. Last year, they canceled Marcy Day. So back to the game. Like, yo, you played through injuries, coaching changes, trades, different roles. What would you say was your toughest career challenge? Like, mentally?

[Taj Gibson]

I would say. I would say being traded. First time being traded. Yeah, it was mentally. Like, it shook me up. How cold the business can be. Like, oh, one minute you're like, yo, yo, chill, relax. The way they did me. It was like, yo, Taj, yo, chill. It was in practice, having a good practice, regular, normal stuff. Drive in, eat the same breakfast. They was like, yo, practice starts, everything's smooth. Yo, chill. Yo, yo, just relax on the side. I'm like, all right. Yeah, you right. We do play tonight. Make sure you know that phone call. Yo, they're trading you. They're trading you. I'm like, oh, wow.

[Memphis Bleak]

Oh.

[Taj Gibson]

Oh. I'm. I'm. This, like, whole. The process is going crazy. When I'm realizing, like, it's over. Like, the. All these memories I had is it's done. They like, yo, we got to get you up out of here. Like, thank you. Hugging a million people, and the next, you know, you're on the plane going somewhere else.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's crazy. I never thought, as a fan, I don't think we think about it like that.

[Taj Gibson]

Yeah, but it's tough. And if you think about it, you still. You still blessed enough to just still be in the league.

[Memphis Bleak]

You know what I'm saying?

[Taj Gibson]

It's always. There's always your highs and lows, but, yeah, man. Cause you always really think that you're going to be with a certain organization for a long time. Yeah, that's how it goes.

[Memphis Bleak]

And speaking of that, that led into this, I was going to ask you too, man. A lot of players, you know, getting traded, different coaches or whatever, they struggle when they role change. You know what I mean? And you adapted and remained valuable on every team you ever played for. So how did you manage that? Like, the staying focused, you know what I mean?

[Taj Gibson]

Even through them times, it's like, I'm already. It's like with any profession, like, you got some people, you can tell that I really love the game. Like, I'm A student of the game. I came into the league where guys were going on three month training, training periods where they're going LA and just train a whole summer and really that's all they did, work on their bodies. I would see magic. You would see different older guys. Paul Pierce still playing late until like they're like almost their 40s. Guys still wanting the love of the game. And you used to be loving that. Cause you still wanted to just learn whatever they had going on. Like some guys. I remember we was working out in LA one time, we would work out with bodybuilders. Swimmers learn different trades of the game. Kobe like, yo, learn how to swim. Learn how to do different things and grow your game. Don't worry about what nobody's thinking. Follow your path. That's one thing I always tell, like when I used to. When Kobe used to always come to Chicago, he used to really pull up like, that's. He's so gangster. He should pull up like, yo come to Gibson's consistently like, yo, talking to dudes from Brooklyn, like being regular tar. Stay on your path. You, you tough. Just stay on your path. Learn how to swim. Take care of your body. Don't worry about anything. Stay focused on your path. I didn't realize that's why I tried it as a veteran. And these teams keep picking me up. They'll just be Taj, I'm like, all right, what you want me to do? That's right, be yourself. I'm telling them each time, don't worry about the noise. We all, as everybody that grown men, we all got to stay on our path. We all gotta go through that fire no matter what. Once you turn 18, we all going through the fire.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact.

[Taj Gibson]

Crazy fire.

[Memphis Bleak]

It's a fact. So like the young, what you think the young, the younger athletes misunderstood about what it takes because you had a long career. Like you said, you always getting picked up. The veteran career all the time. Like you longevity, you definitely wanted anyone they think of longevity in the NBA, you definitely have to be one of the faces put there because you've been in the league, what, 17 years, right? Damn. Blessed, blessed, blessed. So what you think the young guys got misunderstood about what it takes to build longevity. Now?

[Taj Gibson]

I think that that question is that people that we are the ones giving the information that we don't love them like we. We're giving. I'm for myself because I don't, I don't. I'm not that vet. I'm not that guy. That's. That, that OG that's in front of you, like, don't do it. I'm really that og, like, coming from a place of love. I always try to give them to him. From a standpoint of, look at me like that uncle. That uncle that didn't make it, look at me. The uncle. Like, the uncle that's at the corner store, your brother that's looking at you that didn't make it, look at me. And when I tell you this, look at. Look like it's coming from them. That's right, like. Cause it's really tough out here, bro. You don't understand. Like, you may have lost at this game, but you winning on the game of life. And then everybody's not always willing to be at your friend. Like, that's where the OGs come through. And, like, it's okay to, like, take a step back sometime. When you take a step back, the love gonna come back double.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's a fact. Sometimes you got to take a step back to take 10 steps forward, or

[Taj Gibson]

it may go the other way. But when you solid, you gotta have some kind of moral stand on something. That's why I stand on charge more. I stand on for me. I stand on love. I stand on being there for my teammates. And it always come back.

[Memphis Bleak]

Nah, that's a fact. Definitely a solid one. For sure, my G. And like, we just was talking about it, man. You stay connected to New York, your community, everything, man. Like, why is that so important to you? Like, that other people might not understand?

[Taj Gibson]

Well, because it's important, because we gotta keep passing it down. Because I realize, like, it's. I think it was a meme where you seen, like, a picture of a guy, he's standing on top of books, and the books take him above the picture, above the window. Some guys can see through the mirror, through the window. Some guys can't even get to the window. And it's like, I'm at that stage where I really see what's going on. So I'm like, it's a process. It's like a chain, a reaction. A lot of stuff going on. So each time I'm trying to build wealth, knowledge, to help the next generation. It's tough, don't get me wrong. But you gotta. I take it on the chin. Nah.

[Memphis Bleak]

You know what I think why I've always tell people, the young kids, why I think it's hard for us to connect. We gotta think back to when we was younger and the older niggas was talking to us. It was like, man, you gotta some Some of these young guys, you gotta let them bump their head and then they'll take the knowledge on the chin. Because, bro, I. I grew up around the OGs, and I'll be a fool to tell you if I never up the way Dame Jay or Biggs had to be, like, I told you. And it's like, yo, you did. But I had to run into that brick wall myself to experience it, you know what I mean? To really understand the depth of the message. Because sometimes the words just sit there and it has no meaning if you don't have the experience.

[Taj Gibson]

Most definitely.

[Memphis Bleak]

You know what I mean? So that's what I think it is. I think it's the lack of experience these kids didn't experience enough to really understand the message.

[Taj Gibson]

Well, they don't be outside the way we used to.

[Memphis Bleak]

No. Hell no.

[Taj Gibson]

These.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yo, it's so crazy, man. Like, think about it. The young boys invented dances. The way you don't dance with no bitches.

[Guest or Additional Speaker]

How.

[Memphis Bleak]

Like, how I be. Damn if we ever went to the club in that era and we spinning around down there and all the hoes just over there, we be like, homie fucking the vibe.

[Taj Gibson]

It's just now it's you getting sturdy.

[Memphis Bleak]

I don't think I'm sturdy. I don't think I'm.

[Taj Gibson]

Well, one thing about the barbecue, the family barbecue, always lets you know who's sturdy or not.

[Memphis Bleak]

Oh, they still out. I know they be out there busting it up.

[Taj Gibson]

You kidding me?

[Memphis Bleak]

Even at the Knicks, they was busting it up. At the Garden, they ain't playing. I know I could. I'm glad I'm at the age where I'm at, where I don't have to be outside with these young. Because these knees. I'd have jumped down on that floor one time. Ain't no popping back up. It had been just like the Slinkies. We knew that didn't work straight up. So what opportunity, what opportunities outside of basketball most excite you right now?

[Taj Gibson]

Real estate.

[Memphis Bleak]

Yeah.

[Taj Gibson]

Right now, me and my friends, we're doing a whole real estate project, allowing ourselves to really grow as this individuals trying to build wealth in our community. Shout out to Aloe Brooklyn downtown, one of our partners, we're just trying to have built equity in the neighborhood, learn the process as well, but still keep thriving and still keep trying to learn at the same time. And I'm excited. I got my man Meek with me. Who's here? Right here with me now, my brother Gregory. We just continue to keep growing and shout out to the whole Three keys movement, the whole agency, we just continue to keep growing.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's what's up, man. So what's next for you, my G? What's the next play? I know you got the basketball youth league, the real estate, I think they say y' all doing the boys and girls joint over. I used to play ball in there, so I'm definitely gotta come by and see that project finish for sure.

[Taj Gibson]

Well. Well, yes. One of the projects working on remodeling a boys and girls club in downtown Brooklyn, right in the of downtown Fort Green, Farragut. Just bringing positivity and leaving all the negativity out, repurposing the whole public school, bringing more awareness and more technology to downtown Brooklyn. That's the whole point, is having a say at the table for the minorities, for people of our upbringing, and just continue to grow it. I can't wait for the future's real bright. But downtown Brooklyn as a whole, even all the way up from Myrtle, all the way down, all the way up to Broadway, we have to be more educated because it's a lot of opportunities coming and I'm looking forward to this. Getting money to our people. Be real with you, for real.

[Memphis Bleak]

That's what's up, man. I appreciate it, man. More blessings. Continue to success. Like I said, if there's any way we could participate. Rock solid. You know, we got a lot of different avenues and connections too. And you know, that's my town too. So I'm with you, my dog. I appreciate you.

[Taj Gibson]

Appreciate you.

[Memphis Bleak]

Stay blessed, man. Doing your thing.

[Taj Gibson]

Shout out, Marcy.

[Memphis Bleak]

You know what it is for Green, Marcy. Connecting it. Been that way since about, what, 88 outside?

[Taj Gibson]

Yes, sir.

[Memphis Bleak]

For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows at. And you can follow me on any social media platform under the name Memphis Bleak. You see anybody frauding, flag them.

[Taj Gibson]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.