Daniel Hiram Gibson, nicknamed Boobie, is a former professional basketball player who played seven seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for Cleveland Cavaliers. He has been serving as an assistant coach for the Cavaliers’ G-League team since 2022.
He played basketball at Jones Future Academy and the University of Texas before declaring for the NBA draft.
The former professional basketball player was drafted as the 42nd overall pick by the Cavaliers in the 2006 NBA draft.
Though Gibson officially retired in 2015, he ended his seven-year NBA career in 2013. After his retirement, the NBA player chose a music career and became popular as a rapper.
While most speculated he ended his NBA career to pursue music, he had a different reason to retire early. So, why did Gibson retire from his NBA career? We have covered it all, so make sure to read it till the end.
Furthermore, this article has covered everything about Daniel Gibson, from his early life to becoming a famous NBA player and his life after retirement.
But, before digging into his details, let’s know him briefly with his quick facts.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Daniel Hiram Gibson |
| Name | Daniel Gibson |
| Nick Name | Boobie |
| Date of Birth | February 27, 1986 |
| Age | 39 Years Old |
| Birth Place | Houston, Texas |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Height | 6’2″/1.88 m/188 cm |
| Weight | 91 kg/200 lb. |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Father’s Name | Byron Gibson |
| Mother’s Name | Cheryl Gibson |
| Siblings | None |
| High School | Jones High School |
| Education | University Dropout |
| University | The University of Texas, Austin |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Keyshia Cole |
| Marriage Year | 2011 |
| Children | One; Daniel Gibson Jr |
| Girlfriend | Brooke Valentine |
| Profession | Former NBA Player |
| Position | Point guard/Shooting guard |
| Leagues | National Basketball Association (NBA) |
| NBA Draft | 42nd overall second-round pick by Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Debut Year | 2006 |
| Retirement | 2013 |
| International Award | None |
| Awards and achievements |
|
| Net Worth | $4 million |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
| Merch | Basketball Trading Card |
| Last Update | April 2025 |
Early Life
On February 27, 1986, Daniel Gibson was born to Byron and Cheryl Gibson in Houston, Texas.
His father, Bryon, also played collegiate basketball for the University of Houston.
Gibson spent most of his childhood with his grandmother, who was very special to him. However, his grandmother passed away before he commenced college.
He had shared his NBA dream with his grandmother, and she would have been the proudest if she were to be alive to witness her grandson living his dream.
Age, Height & Weight
Daniel was born in 1986, which makes her 39 years old. He celebrates his birthday every year on February 27, and his horoscope is pieces.
The former Cavalier’s point guard stands at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 meters) tall and weighs around 91 kg (200 pounds).
Daniel has tattoos all over his body, which feature different quotes and logos. He also got a tattoo of his wife, Keyshia Cole, on his body.
Amateur Career
Gibson was a basketball star right from his high school days. He was a prominent player at Jones High School in Houston, Texas.
The player led the school to win the Texas Class 4A state championship, averaging 25.5 points and 9.3 assists per game.
He was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated sixth in high school.
After being a high school standout, Daniel enrolled at the University of Texas and was a standout guard for the Longhorns.
He scored his personal-high 37 points in a game against Kansas State in January 1997. With the Longhorns, Gibson averaged 13.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game playing 68 games in two seasons.
In his freshman year, he was named All-Big 12 Third Team and became the first freshman in school history to lead Texas in scoring.
Following his sophomore year, he earned Honorable Mention All-America by the Associated Press, First-Team NABC All-District 9 honors, and All-Big 12 THIRD-TEAM selection.
He set a school record for the most three-pointers made in a season (101), and he was awarded the Bob Cousy Award, given to the nation’s top point guard.
Daniel had a fantastic college career, and people were shocked when Gibson revealed his intention to enter the NBA draft, forging his two remaining years of college eligibility.
NBA Career
The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Gibson with the 42nd overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft.
The Cavaliers had the league’s lowest-scoring backcourt in 2006, and adding Gibson to the team was a smart move for the team to stand out in the league.
Gibson led all rookies in three-point field goal percentage with 41.9% and averaged 4.6 points per game in his rookie season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers made it to the playoffs thanks to Daniel’s efforts and soon he was placed in the starting line-up.
Gibson ranked fifth in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage, making 44.0% of his attempts. He was named MVP of the Rookie Challenge and finished second in the Three-point Shootout.
On June 10, 2008, Gibson sustained an ankle injury which forced him to miss several games.
On July 16, 2008, Daniel and the Cavaliers agreed on a five-year/$21 million deal. He scored his 1,000th career point in the Cavs’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 26, 2008.
It was going good for Daniel in the 2012-13 season until he suffered from another ankle injury that kept him away for two years, and he announced his retirement in 2015.
He capped off his professional career playing 397 games and averaging 7.8 points, 2.0 assists, 0.2 blocks, and 0.6 steals per game.
Why Did Gibson Retire From NBA?
Many people speculated that Gibson had retired from basketball to pursue a career in music. But it wasn’t the case. The former professional basketball player said that there were a plethora of things as to why he thought to end his NBA journey.
Several things happened at once for Gibson, which was hard for him to tackle. He had to sit away due to his ankle injury, and in the meantime, he was struggling with his marriage which ultimately led to divorce.
Gibson thought he needed to take a break from the game to focus on more important personal issues at that time in his life.
Also, one of the factors for his retirement was his newfound passion for music, which he probably thought was a good chance to step away from the game.
Awards And Achievements
- Big 12 Freshman of the Year (2005)
- Two times Third-team All-Big 12 (2005, 2006)
- Big 12 All-Defensive Team – Media (2006)
- McDonald’s All-American (2004)
- Second-team Parade All-American (2004)
- Fourth-team Parade All-American (2003)
- Bob Cousy Award (2005)
- MVP of the Rookie Challenge (2006)
Post Retirement & Music Career
Gibson used music more as a form of therapy than a new career path. With so many things going on in his life, he needed to express himself to someone.
So he just started writing his thought and expressing himself. Soon, he released his first music video, namely Suicide, where he expressed a strong message with his rapping. He was admired for his rapping and meaningful lyrics.
His music career started peaking as he started working with big names. As of now, he is known mainly as a rap singer rather than a former NBA player.
The former Cavaliers’ shooting guard returned to his former club but in a coaching role for the G League-affiliate team, Cleveland Charge, in 2022. He currently serves as an assistant coach program apprentice/scout for the team.
Marriage And Relationships
Re-Marriage and Divorce
Daniel Gibson married Keyshia Cole in May 2010. Keyshia is a popular American singer and songwriter.
They tied the knot in a private ceremony in Las Vegas, but Keyshia always wanted to have a dream wedding.
So, the couple organized a grand wedding and retook their vows in the presence of all of their friends and family.
The couple married in Hawaii, surrounded by a beautiful waterfall, lush greenery, and gorgeous wildflowers.
The pair welcomed their first child, a son, Daniel Jr., on March 2, 2020, who also attended their wedding.
But unfortunately, the couple parted ways after spending three years together. They divorced in 2014.
Girlfriends
Daniel Gibson was in a relationship with a TV personality and R&B singer, Brooke Valentine. His relationship with Valentine was verified from social media posts that showed them being more than friends and were in a serious relationship.
Brooke Valentine is two years older than Daniel and has been his close friend for years.
The former professional basketball player was linked with Teyana Taylor, Brittany Diamond Carpentero, Bridget Kelly, and Arica Kane.
Net Worth
Daniel Gibson’s net worth is estimated at $4 million as of 2025, most of which came from his professional NBA career.
In his seven seasons with the Cavaliers, he earned a total of $21,240,889 in salary.
Apart from the millions worth of NBA contracts, Daniel also earned good fortune from his endorsement deals.
Social Media
The athlete is active on social media and frequently updates fans about his life and recent ventures.
You can find him on Instagram under the handle @boobygang and Twitter @BooBysWorld1.
Instagram: 158.7k followers
Twitter: 850k followers
Popularity
The former professional basketball player gained popularity during his active playing career and made some headlines after he joined the Cavaliers as the assistant coach for their G-League affiliate team.
The above graph gives brief information about the popularity of Daniel Gibson based on Google searches in the United States over a year.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is Daniel Gibson's nickname Boobie?
Daniel's mother gave him a nickname, and his grandmother continued calling him Boobie. It was more of a family nickname. He publicized his nickname, and the whole world started calling him Boobie and embraced him like their little brother.
What are Daniel Gibson's statistics in the NBA?
In his NBA career, Daniel played 397 games with an average of 2 rebounds, 0.6 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game. Overall, he has scored 3115 points, 792 rebounds, and 775 assists.
