Taj Gibson doesn't believe he's famous. In his mind, the self-described "gym rat" is just a regular guy from Brooklyn, N.Y. He just wants to do his job and go home. The only problem is that he has the type of job everyone dreams about -- starting forward for the Chicago Bulls.

The thing is, Gibson seems to be one of the most laid-back people you'll ever meet. He could talk to you about anything. The USC alum reads Time magazine on a regular basis and is a big reality TV fan.

"He's cocky and arrogant," Bulls guard Jannero Pargo joked from a distance as Gibson and I spoke recently.

As you'll see below, those probably would be the last two words you would use to describe Gibson and his game.

Nick Friedell: Are you the most famous Taj out there right now?

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Ron Turenne/NBAE/Getty Images

Bulls rookie Taj Gibson scored a career-high 18 points against the Raptors on Wednesday.

Taj Gibson: (Smiles) Right now, I don't know. I don't really know. I don't think I'm famous. To tell you the truth, I don't think I'm famous. I'm a regular guy. [I] do my little work and go home and relax.

But you play for the Chicago Bulls. That makes you a little different than the average guy, right?

TG: Yeah. I'm still a rookie. I'm still a guy getting his feet wet. That's why I'm just taking it one day at a time. I don't really let the hype get to me. I just enjoy it while I have it.

A popular headline for you early this season has been "The Rise of Taj," a takeoff of that "Van Wilder" spinoff. Did you see that movie?

TG: (Laughs) Yes, I saw it. But … I'm just a humble guy. I just work hard and I let things play into factors. Whatever task I'm given, I'm willing to go with it and just play out with heart.

You grew up in Brooklyn and played high school ball in California. What was the recruiting pitch to get you to USC?

TG: Sunny beaches. It's a private school. Good education. My mom was real high on that. My mom really wanted me to get out of New York and venture out and see new places. There's nothing like being on the West Coast. A new culture. I got to meet great people.

Getting a scholarship to USC was a dream come true. My mom and my family never thought I would have a good school like that to go to, so I just took it and ran with it.

You're going to be answering this question a lot all year: How do you think so many teams missed on you?

TG: You never know. One thing about me, one thing [former Bulls and USC coach Tim] Floyd has taught me is try to help your team win. I never was the type of guy that always made a lot of buckets or [did] a lot of yelling and screaming. At the end of the day, I did what it took for my team to win.

And three years in a row my team made the NCAA tournament. We got a lot of wins. Broke a lot of records for USC. There's nothing more I can say. It was never about me. It was always about helping my team win and try to help players around me get better. As time went on, I got better along with it. You see I developed. And I have fun with it.

Why don't you think more guys in college focus on defense, knowing that can get them into the league and producing much earlier?

TG: I don't know. Because of ESPN. A lot of shows mostly show a lot of offense. A lot of guys dunking the ball. Yelling. They don't really show too much defense. For you to be successful in this league and get minutes as a rookie, you have to really defensively understand instructions. So early, I've been able to understand instructions, know defensive play calls. Just move my feet well.

All that translates into offense. My offense follows along after my defense. I'm able to make quick layups, turn around with jump shots. Just being patient. A lot of guys don't really take advantage of going to college and experiencing the full four years. I'm not just saying myself; I experienced three and a half. It was fun.

You finished getting all your credits though, right?

TG: I'm going to finish this summer. I only have a summer left, so I got out of there good as a junior.

What do you think the upcoming summer's coming to be like, coming back as an NBA guy now?

TG: It won't be anything different. I'm still going to take it in, go to class. Do what I have to do, because I loved going to school there. It was great. Just waking up and going to class. But now it's even greater, just waking up and playing basketball every day.

I read where some of your favorite interests were reading and listening to music. What's the last good book you read?

TG: The last book I read had to be the Bible. I got really into the Bible real seriously right after I got drafted. I was really into a whole bunch of different magazines, different books. War books, things like that. When I got into college I started reading a lot more. Recently, I just really started reading the Bible a lot -- getting in depth with that.

I read a lot of the Wall Street Journal. I read a lot of Time magazine, about what's going on in the world. A lot of different things to educate my mind.

You realize you're breaking the stereotypes of what most people think NBA players read?

TG: Yeah, because one thing about being in New York, I used to always grow up on the train. I used to always wonder why so many guys, when they're going to work, going to Times Square going to Wall Street -- they used to always have these books. [I thought] what's so good about those books? When I got into college I really started getting in-depth with it and just find out. It's always good to know what's going on in your everyday life. And don't take it for granted.

What's in rotation right now on your iPod?

TG: I have Jay-Z.

"The Blueprint 3"?

TG: "The Blueprint 3." I have every single Jay-Z album. I'm from Brooklyn, so I have to.

Is having every Jay-Z album part of the DNA in Brooklyn?

TG: (Smiles) I have to. I have to. I have Biggie, Lil' Wayne, Drake. Anybody new. Dead Presidents. Kid Cudi. Kanye West. I listen to Rock. I listen to Coldplay. I listen to different things. I listen to old-school -- Al Green, James Brown. A lot of different music that mellows me out.

As a Yankees fan from Brooklyn, how happy were you that they won the World Series again?

TG: I was happy for my city. My city got the world championship back. But it was kind of a given, it was kind of like you were expecting them to win. It wasn't like how back in the day they used to win with … there were years when there was a miracle hit against Boston. It was like we were supposed to win, and then when we won I was just even more ecstatic.

Are you a Jeter guy or an A-Rod guy?

TG: I'm a Jeter guy. I like his character. I like the way he's a leader on the court and he's been doing it in that tough environment for a while.

Do you think A-Rod will ever be totally accepted by Yankees fans?

TG: Yeah, I think he'll be accepted because he's just a good guy. People understand that just because he represents the New York Yankees, he's one player. But off the field he's a great guy. And he does a lot of good, positive things for the community.

I read that one of your favorite players is Lamar Odom. Were you as surprised as anyone else when it came out that he was getting married?

TG: I was surprised. I was like, "What?" I was like, "Lamar, what? Come on, man." But it's his personal life. I can't judge him on his personal life. He's still a good player to me. I loved watching him growing up.

Do you pay more attention to the "Keeping up with the Kardashians" show because of his marriage?

TG: Nah, not really. Even though I watch a lot of realty [TV shows]. I think it's great. I went to school with [the Kardashians'] younger brother. He went to USC. I was really supportive of [the show]. The younger brother is a real good guy. I met him a couple times, so I watch the show from time to time.

What are your favorite reality TV shows?

TG: My favorite reality shows have to be & it has to be "Flavor of Love." That whole series -- that was just off the top. "Tool Academy" is hilarious. "For the Love of Ray J". All the dating shows that they mostly have on there. "Rock of Love" -- because [the reality shows] are great TV.

Is Flavor Flav the craziest guy on reality TV?

TG: He has to be the craziest guy. I don't think nobody else tops him for that VH1 spotlight now.

How would you describe him to somebody who's never seen him? How would you describe him and the show?

TG: I thought he was a wild man. I didn't really think … I always knew he was a good hype man, but from the way he talks to the women -- he has confidence. He can speak to women. Sometimes, he maybe knows how to treat a woman. I was shocked, like Flav really has game to get girls. That's crazy.

Do you watch that show sometimes when he is with Bridgette Nielsen and look at that lady and say, "She was in 'Rocky IV'?"

TG: Yeah, it's unbelievable. She was smoking back in "Rocky IV". And [Flav] went out with her -- to the point where she was saying, "I love you."

So did you pick up the acting bug like everybody else when you were out in California?

TG: Nah, not really. When I first got into USC, I got accepted to the No. 1 movie/communications school in the country -- Annenberg. When I went there, I was happy I got in. But then this came along with it: I was able to understand the whole movie dialogues on things.

Working with communication, radio I could meet a lot of different movie stars, directors. [Steven] Spielberg. A lot of different good guys. And I was able to translate and I was blessed to even have the opportunity to go there.

So "The Taj Gibson Reality Show" -- is that coming soon or is that in the future?

TG: In the future, maybe, if I'm lucky. (Smiles) But, it's always a good thing. I'm going to see how LeBron [James] and Lamar Odom, how their reality shows go. But hopefully one day.

Flavor Flav's going to have a guest-starring role in your show, right?

TG: I hope. I hope he brings another reality show out. I hope he does. I want to see him again. It was exciting to see him. He's a good character. Just seeing how he is on camera is just great.

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