3 Ways Guerschon Yabusele can help the Philadelphia 76ers next season

The Philadelphia 76ers were heading into the last part of a busy summer with a serious depth problem in the forward position. With only three players available to be used as tweeners, Nick Nurse needed someone reliable to have on his bench. The free agency pool was kind of dry, but the Olympic Games provided the answer in Guerschon Yabusele.

The French international was exceptional during the tournament and turned in two break-out performances in the semi-finals and the finals. His performance in the final game against the USA gave the Sixers the chance to see him compete against the best NBA talent of our time. Yabusele answered the call, and now he's set to join the squad.

More importantly, he is going to be part of the effort to bring a title to Philadelphia. The French international is a known winner at the European level, posting a laudable three-year run with Real Madrid and the French national team. During that time, the Frenchman played in three EuroLeague title games, while he was part of the second-best team in the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.

Once he set foot in Europe, Yabusele, who was the 16th overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, started to build his resume as a hyper-strong physical specimen in the small power forward position. He instantly showed his talent and moved from a low-level EuroLeague club to Real Madrid in 2021. From that point on, the Frenchman rose to prominence.

However, the important question at this point is how he can help the 76ers achieve their goals this season. The 76ers are getting into the 2024–25 campaign with the goal of winning the NBA title after adding Paul George to the team. They also tried to build a strong bench, considering that Embiid and George are certain to miss games during the regular season.

Guerschon Yabusele adds physicality to the 76ers bench unit

Expect Yabusele to earn minutes in the Sixers' rotation sooner rather than later. Yabusele, a dynamic forward who outpaces opponents with strength and physicality, is what Nick Nurse needs alongside Paul George. During his time in Europe, the Frenchman was molded into a 3-and-D wing that could attack the paint and stretch the floor. His multifaceted talents proved a tough ask for every opponent in the EuroLeague.

He's not a top-tier rebounder, so he has to have a clear-cut center alongside him to produce at a high level. Thankfully, the Sixers have two of them in Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond this season. In addition, Yabusele's physical presence helps him as a post-defender, as his core body strength and broad shoulders make him almost unmovable in the post.

The French international built winning habits during his time on the European basketball scene. Every possession matters for him, and his ability to outplay opponents with pure strength helps him a ton to be a positive contributor on both ends of the floor. He's a little undersized for the power forward position, but he's playing with a high motor every time he steps on the floor.

The city of Philadelphia will love his tenacity and passion, which fit the team's profile going into a crucial season for the franchise. The fans will watch Yabusele get into the faces of the opponents and strain them mentally and physically, and that's a great asset on the big stage.