Last month, Guerschon Yabusele completed a triumphant voyage back to the NBA. The Philadelphia 76ers signed the bruising forward to a one-year, $2.1 million deal, making him the latest addition to a superstar offseason for the franchise.
Yabusele hasn't played an NBA game in over 1,940 days, and his last stint was with the Boston Celtics over five years ago. After a breakout campaign with the French national team in the Paris Olympics, the 28-year-old is reinvigorated to flex his muscles in association.
Ready to go to the mat
Playing a featured role in France's run to the gold medal game, Yabusele averaged 14.0 points and 3.3 rebounds on 51.9 percent shooting from the field. He ripped off one play that smashed headlines when his spring-loaded legs sent him soaring over eventual Olympic MVP LeBron James for a poster dunk.
Although France's ardent sprint ended just short of gold, Yabusele exited the tournament with blazing momentum that helped land him in Philadelphia, a team with championship aspirations entering the 2024-25 season. With the 76ers making the biggest move of the summer by acquiring nine-time NBA All-Star Paul George , the Frenchman sees himself in an ideal spot to soak in the spotlight.
"I feel like that was the only team that would give me a shot. It was just a situation, and everything looks pretty good for me, so I'm excited to join the team," said the 28-year-old of his return to the NBA, via USA Today's Sixers Wire.
Lured in by his fellow Frenchman
Being out of the league since the end of the 2018 season, Guerschon would have willingly accepted a contract offer from any NBA, but signing with Philadelphia came with its own incentives.
The franchise has housed French stars over the years, notably veteran journeyman Nicolas Batum, who suited up for the Sixers last season, and Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, who played for Philly from 2016 to 2018.
"Timothe, especially when I was here before and he was here. He showed me a little bit of the city. But when the rumor comes out on the internet, I talked to Nicolas, and he was telling me how good [76ers head coach] Nick [Nurse] was going to be as a coach and the city, the love, the fans, the everything, and he was telling me how good of a spot it would be for me to come in here," Yabusele recalled.
This opportunity called him for years. After a rocky couple of seasons in the NBA, Yabusele dashed to play overseas, playing in China, France, and Real Madrid. He helped lift the Spanish giants to a EuroLeague title two seasons ago.
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