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The Boston Celtics announced today that they have signed guard Jonathan Gibson. Gibson fills Boston’s 15th roster spot and is eligible for the 2019 NBA Playoffs beginning this weekend. Gibson is a 6’2’’ combo guard who played his college ball at New Mexico State. He has two years of NBA experience and extensive overseas experience since turning pro in 2010.
Gibson should be familiar to Celtics fans, as he finished the 2017-18 season with Boston. Gibson was signed that season via the Hardship Exception, when Boston had several players out with injuries. He was not eligible for the playoffs, due to being signed via the Hardship Exception. This time around, Gibson is eligible for the playoffs, as he’s signed to a standard roster spot.
Gibson played in four games with Boston last season and averaged 8.5 points per game on 60.9 percent shooting. This included an 18-point explosion in the final game of the season against the Brooklyn Nets. Gibson played 24:31 in that game and shot 8-of-13 from the field. Given the Celtics short roster for the final game of the 2018-19 season at the Washington Wizards, expect Gibson to have a similar opportunity.
Gibson was eligible for restricted free agency last season, but the Celtics declined to offer him a qualifying offer. Gibson was an unrestricted free agent and went unsigned by NBA teams throughout the 2018-19 season. Gibson spent the balance of the year with Qingdao of the Chinese Basketball Association. This marked Gibson’s third season with Qingdao. In between he played for the Dallas Mavericks in 2016-17.
Over 44 games with Qindaqo, Gibson averaged 33.1 points per game on 46.1 percent shooting. He also averaged 6.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while in China. This was Gibson’s third straight year of at least 33 points per game, as he averaged 33.7 points in 2017-18 and a whopping 41.9 points per game in 2015-16.
Gibson will wear jersey #8 after wearing #60 in his first stint with Boston. Gibson will again be eligible for restricted free agency following this season, should the Celtics choose to tender him a qualifying offer.