Getty Guerschon Yabusele
Guerschon Yabusele is among the Philadelphia 76ers’ newest members. During his introductory press conference, the French player revealed that two Sixers alumni persuaded him to sign with the team.
“My friend Timothé Luwawu played here. … Timothé, especially, when I was here before when he was here, he showed me a little bit of the city. 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,” Yabusele told reporters, per PhillyVoice’s Adam Aaronson.
Luwawu-Cabarrot and Batum also hail from France.
The Sixers drafted Luwawu-Cabarrot in 2016 — the same year Yabusele was selected by the Boston Celtics — and he played for the team from 2016 to 2018. He has not played in the NBA since 2022, when he resumed his professional basketball career overseas.
Batum played for the Sixers for most of the 2023-24 season before re-joining the Los Angeles Clippers.
Guerschon Yabusele Will Play in NBA for 1st Time Since 2019
The Boston Celtics drafted Yabusele with the No. 16 pick in the 2016 NBA draft. He later came over in 2017 and played for the team until 2019. Before the Sixers signed him, Yabusele spent five seasons playing for three teams in China, France and Spain.
He credited his three seasons with Real Madrid (2021-24) with his development since his brief stint in the NBA.
“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,” Yabusele told reporters, per Aaronson.
Yabusele, a power forward, should get an opportunity to show how much he has improved given the Sixers’ lack of size at the position.
“If Yabusele carries over his Olympic form, this topic may not be complicated for the Sixers,” NBC Sports’ Noah Levick wrote on August 25. “Regardless, a 6-foot-8, 270-pound player could be especially handy in certain matchups. For instance, opening-night opponent Milwaukee plays 6-foot-10, 250-pound Bobby Portis at both the five and the four.”
In his first two seasons in the league, Yabusele averaged just 2.3 points a game in 6.6 minutes. This time, he will likely get a more significant shot in Philadelphia to show how good he is. If he proves himself reliable, he could be a diamond in the rough for the Sixers.
Bleacher Report’s Scott Polacek wrote on August 18 that there “may be room at the power forward position for Yabusele to play his way into a role in the rotation. If nothing else, he’s joining a contender as someone who can provide a spark off the bench.”
Guerschon Yabusele’s Olympic Numbers
Yabusele stood out during the 2024 Paris Olympics. He was one of France’s biggest contributors as they were on their way to getting a silver medal. In six games, he averaged 14 points while shooting nearly 52% from the field.
Among his biggest highlights was dunking on LeBron James during the Olympic finals for an And-1.
His overall performance in the Olympics ultimately led to an outcry for him to get another shot in the NBA.
The Sixers have overhauled their roster and hope to reach a level they haven’t seen since 2001. Yabusele could very well help them accomplish their goals.
Yasubele tweeted about his opportunity on August 11: “Been waiting for a second chance. I’m ready.”
Been waiting for a 2nd chance.. I’m ready 😤🧸
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2 Former Sixers Persuaded Guerschon Yabusele to Join Team