SALT LAKE CITY — The Knicks are bringing back an old and familiar face.
Taj Gibson, a longtime Tom Thibodeau favorite, is signing with the Knicks for the rest of the season, a league source confirmed.
The move comes as insurance after starting center Mitchell Robinson underwent ankle surgery on Tuesday and is expected to miss about two months, or maybe more.
Gibson, 38, is among the oldest active players.
This will be his third stint with the Knicks after leaving in the 2022 offseason to sign with the Wizards.
The Brooklyn native, who grew up a Knicks fan, can play two positions of need for Thibodeau — either power forward or center — and provides the coach with a trusted leadership voice in the locker room.
He was a free agent after being waived by the Wizards before the season.
Thibodeau also coached Gibson in Chicago and Minnesota.
Gibson averaged 3.4 points and 1.9 rebounds in 49 games last season with Washington.
He developed an effective corner 3-pointer late in his career, giving Gibson the ability to at least threaten to space the floor.
With Robinson out, the Knicks are splitting time at center between Jericho Sims and Isaiah Hartenstein.
They don’t have a natural backup power forward and mostly utilize Josh Hart in that spot.
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