“What in the world is happening between the New York Knicks and Guerschon Yabusele,” says a Philadelphia 76ers fan, probably.
Fresh off a breakout season with the 76ers in his first foray back into the NBA after a half-decade huatus therefrom, everyone expected Yabusele to be a vital role player for the Knicks this season. Unfortunately, that cannot be any farther from the truth. So far this season, he has been a notable afterthought for New York, getting himself buried deep in their depth chart.
Last season, the Frenchman in 43 of his 70 appearances and averaged 27.1 minutes per outing. He registered norms of 11 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting over 50 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point territory. In a campaign filled with untimely injuries, he was their most consistent and reliable rotation piece.
Unfortunately, things did not work out for him and the 76ers front office, as he suddenly found himself with the Knicks. New York probably envisioned him as their primary backup forward, but new head coach Mike Brown does not seem to be too invested in giving him real minutes.
Guerschon Yabusele suddenly went from 76ers starter to Knicks benchwarmer
Following their latest loss to the 76ers thanks to the heroics of their opponent’s backcourt, the Knicks now have a 19-8 record, which is still good for second place in the Eastern Conference. Their early success means their current rotation is working, making it highly difficult for Yabusele to get actual court time when they are fully healthy.
So far, the Knicks have only deployed Yabusele as a minutes filler. He is getting just 9.6 minutes per contest, which is a colossal drop-off from what he got with the 76ers last season.
Unfortunately, there really is no clear way out for Yabusele in this quagmire he finds himself in. New York is turning in a strong regular season, and it is very apparent that they do not view him as part of their plans moving forward.
Nevertheless, this is not only one of the most surprising developments in the league, but also one of the most unfortunate. Yabu really looked like he set himself up for a long career in the NBA with the kind of season he had, but now, his stint in the league may already be coming to a close in unprecedented fashion.
Yikes.