T.I. Film festival series: Part 1- Taj Gibson

Mar 2, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Taj Gibson (22) scramble for a ball on the floor during the second half of the game at Moda Center. The Blazers won 114-109. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Taj Gibson (22) scramble for a ball on the floor during the second half of the game at Moda Center. The Blazers won 114-109. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /
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Taj Gibson
Mar 14, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard Victor Oladipo (5) celebrates his three point shot against the Brooklyn Nets with Thunder power forward Taj Gibson (22) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

See you again:

In Gibson’s 28 games with the Thunder, he has gone from strength to strength. As a player, he has always kept his game compact and palatable. Eager on defense, faithful on offense, playing with nothing less than a rush of blood to the head.

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As the season went along, he slowly grasped the nuances of this team – instances when the crowd needed to see a hard jam instead of a layup, moments when the rest needed him to step up even if nobody said so.

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It is probably not a stretch to say that Thunder fans unanimously want him back on the team next season. His value as a supporting piece on the court, a no-nonsense locker room disciplinarian and personal mentor for Sabonis is unmistakable.

The hope is that the market will be kind, Sam Presti will be wise, and Gibson will be back.

But, if not, the Taj-manian devil has been thoroughly uplifting to the organization in a difficult time. And, Thunder fans will look back fondly at his three months with the team and wish the man nothing but the best.

Unless he joins the Warriors, of course.

All stats courtesy of Basketball Reference.