As the 2024 Olympics came to a close, Guerschon Yabusele shone brightly for Team France, securing a silver medal. His performances hinted at a bigger ambition – a return to the NBA, the pinnacle of basketball competition.
At 28, Yabusele was a first-round pick by the Boston Celtics in 2016. Despite a brief stint in the NBA, he found success internationally before deciding to make a comeback. His journey led him to Real Madrid, where he thrived, but his heart longed for a return to the NBA.
Earlier this month, Yabusele signed a one-year deal with the Sixers, marking his return to the NBA. To make this transition, he had to navigate a buyout agreement with Real Madrid. Despite potential financial sacrifice, Yabusele was determined to chase his NBA dream.
Addressing the media in Camden, NJ, Yabusele shared some key insights:
“My friend, Timothé Luwawu… When the rumor came on the internet, I talked to Nicolas [Batum], and he was telling me how good Nick Nurse was going to be as a coach, and the city, the love, the fans and everything. He was telling me how good of a spot it would be for me to come here.”
“I’d be comfortable to be wherever they want me to be at… I will just try to fill in and do the best I can.”
“I’m not gonna lie that I watched the team and I was like, ‘Yeah I can play there,’ because I never knew that I could be here, but knowing from watching the game and watching the team play, I told myself it would be a good match and a good situation for me.”
“I would say first of all, mentally, the way I think about stuff… [Staying] patient, working, learning. I had the chance to go to Real Madrid to learn.”
“To be honest, I didn’t even realize until I was like, ‘oh yeah, remember when we played Philly?’ We had the things going on.”
“The experience of being in Boston… I remember speaking to a vet like Al Horford and he was talking to me and giving advice… I had pretty good relationships with everybody on the team.”
Despite the competition for playing time, Yabusele is thrilled to be back in the NBA, eager to showcase his talents. With the Sixers, he aims to prove that he belongs among the league’s elite.
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