A defeat! Again. The fifth after six days of championship for Philadelphia which is sinking a little further into the bottom of the NBA rankings. But if his team, still deprived of the pivot with three passports and Olympic champion Joel Embiid, is struggling to find its feet, Guerschon Yabusele, for his part, seems to be flourishing more and more in the prestigious North American basketball championship. Match after match, the progression is constant and obvious.
During Philly’s last outing – 116-118 defeat against Phoenix on the night of Monday to Tuesday – the Frenchie compiled 19 points (5 of 11 from long distance), 7 rebounds and 6 assists in 30 minutes of presence on the parquet. His most playing time of the season. He put together 8 points in a row in an incandescent 4th quarter.
In the end, Yabusele finished 3rd best scorer on his team behind Tyrese Maxey’s 32 points and ahead of Paul George’s 15 points (with 5 rebounds and 4 assists), who made his return to the game after a long absence. His points average this season is 9.2 points per game… and his statistics continue to improve. Like his influence on the game.
During this meeting, he also broke his records for rebounds, passes and points in an NBA match which was 16 units and which dated April 11, 2018 during his first trip across the Atlantic, at the time with the Boston jersey. During these years of discovery – and frustration – he had to be content with crumbs from the technical staff who preferred to send him to play with the Maine Celtics in the G-League, the antechamber of the NBA.
A new American dream
Drafted high, in 16th position in 2016 by Boston, Yabusele was never really able to express himself. His stats at the time confirm it: he averaged 2.5 points in 32 appearances during his first season with Boston (2017-2018), then 2.3 points in 43 games the following year. But since then the situation has not been the same. He offers himself a new youth, a new American dream.
His long and rich time at Real Madrid (winner of the Euroleague in 2023) and, above all, his performance during the Paris Games where his dunk on LeBron James in the final marked the competition, the retinas and the minds, allowed the “dancing Bear” to change status, category, in the eyes of NBA leaders.
“I think that gesture got me signed in the NBA, I’m sure of it. People saw that I worked for five years, were able to see the work, the rise in power,” recognizes the person concerned who did not hesitate when the possibility of trying his luck in the NBA again came up. presented to him.
Yet a crazy and financially risky bet. Because to play this season in the NBA, the 28-year-old player will be out of pocket for nearly $900,000. “It’s up to Guerschon to show that he can get a bigger contract next season. It’s a sporting and not a financial choice,” indicates his agent Olivier Mazet. After six matches, the challenge already seems to have been met.
