Taj Gibson was supposed to be just a locker-room presence with the Knicks.
Perhaps even use this season as a transition year into coaching.
Very little actual playing was anticipated.
But just about a week after he was plucked from near retirement, Gibson has been thrust into action and came through on Christmas — even guarding Giannis Antetokounmpo — in a 129-122 victory.
“I’m the Kurt Thomas of this team now,” Gibson said recently.
Gibson, 38, logged 15 minutes Monday because the Knicks “had to buy time” after starter Isaiah Hartenstein fell into early foul trouble.
That was a recipe for defeat two days earlier against the same opponent.
But this time, Gibson held his own and injected energy into the Knicks.
“Taj’s defensive activity was terrific,” Tom Thibodeau said. “His hustle plays give us energy.”
Unless the Knicks make a move or until Jericho Sims returns from an ankle sprain, Gibson will remain in this role as the backup center.
It’s not the first time Thibodeau has turned to his old reliable.
“He’s come in and I think he has a little bigger role than he thought he was going to have originally,” Josh Hart said. “But he’s been great being able to get in and play his style. Obviously he’s been with Thibs for a long time.
“So he knows the system but, ability to rebound, his communicating, which is huge for us.”
Carmelo Anthony is increasing his presence around the Garden lately and surprised a Bronx family on the court Monday with a $30,000 check “to help position them on a better path,” MSG said.
As part of the initiative with the Garden of Dreams Foundation, Anthony presented the check to Charlie Peña, whose family — including himself and three children — has been diagnosed with sickle cell anemia.
Anthony, per usual, received a rousing ovation from the home crowd. It makes you wonder if there will also be a plan to retire his No. 7 at some point.
Of course, Bernard King — who once scored 60 points for the Knicks on Christmas — was also at the Garden on Monday and his jersey remains absent from the rafters.
With Monday’s victory, Thibodeau tied Hubie Brown for fifth-most wins by a coach in Knicks history.
Thibodeau, who now has 142 victories with the Knicks, still has a long way to catch No. 4 Pat Riley (223), No. 3 Jeff Van Gundy (248), No. 2 Joe Lapchick (326) and No. 1 Red Holzman (613).
Still, it’s an impressive accomplishment considering the Knicks have been around since the 1940s and have had 31 coaches.
Brown, who coincidentally was the ESPN analyst for Monday’s broadcast, needed four full seasons with the Knicks to reach his 142 wins, while Thibodeau is not yet at about 3 ¹/₃ seasons.
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