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SALT LAKE CITY — The applause of thousands filled the EnergySolutions Arena Monday night as the Utah Jazz welcomed their newest and youngest player to the scrimmage before their season opener.
Five-year-old JP Gibson, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2012, signed a one-day contract to suit up with the Jazz as their free agent guard.
Utah Jazz radio voice David Locke introduced JP to the crowd, and asked him how many points he was planning on scoring for the Jazz.
JP confidently told Locke he would score seven points.
After introducing the rest of the team, Locke invited the three rookie players, Dante Exum, Rodney Hood and JP, to participate in a dance-off.
JP busted his best moves with the other players and easily won over the crowd as its favorite dancer.
He knows he has to be six before he can play Junior Jazz, and he reminds us all the time that he can't wait until he's six.
–Megan Gibson
With Jazz president Randy Rigby, JP signed the contract one hour prior to the game. He was accompanied by his parents, Josh and Megan Gibson, and his 2-year-old sister, Elsie.
The Gibson's are thrilled for JP to have this experience.
“I wish it was for a different reason, but we're happy there are people out there that care,” said Josh Gibson. “It's a new world we're thrown into, and it's hard to deal with, but it's life. He's doing really good, and if you look at him you'd never know he has cancer.”
Gibson was diagnosed with leukemia when he was two and a half years old, and he does chemotherapy on a daily basis.
Megan Gibson said his treatments are going well and are scheduled to finish at the beginning of next year.
“JP loves most sports, but basketball is definitely his favorite,” said Megan Gibson, according to a press release. “When he was just over a year old, he would sit with my husband Josh watching games. He started insisting on shooting hoops for an hour each night before bedtime when he was just 15 months old. He knows he has to be six before he can play Junior Jazz, and he reminds us all the time that he can't wait until he's six.”
The Gibsons were hosted by the Utah Jazz, paired with the “Anything Can Be” project, a facet of the Millie’s Princess Foundation, which is dedicated to providing financial and emotional support to families affected by childhood cancer.
Jon Diaz, a photographer who asks children with cancer what their dream is and then turns it into a photo storybook, captured JP’s experience with the Jazz on camera.
The Jazz have participated in many local charitable events through Larry H. Miller charities.
Contributing: Jeremiah Jensen
