76ers Player Preview: Guerschon Yabusele guns for a permanent NBA return

The Philadelphia 76ers are finally returning to the hardwood, but they’re not the only making a grand return. Aside from the team as a collective, a certain player will be hoping to keep a summer momentum going and make a permanent comeback.

Guerschon Yabusele, who last played in the NBA in 2019 for the Boston Celtics, turned in a very impressive showing as part of Team France in the 2024 Summer Olympics. As a result, he landed a one-year deal with the 76ers, five years after his last NBA action.

Guerschon Yabusele eyes to make 76ers stint as springboard for permanent NBA return

With the preseason not yet commencing, it’s still unclear how Nick Nurse and the coaching staff envision to employ Yabusele this season, but if there’s one thing clear, it’s that he got momentum going in his favor after his strong showing in Paris.

Even better, the 76ers are in dire need of playable bodies at forward, and Yabusele definitely brings much-needed physicality to the position. Not to preempt anything, but at this rate, it would be surprising if he fails to clinch a consistent role given the team’s actual needs on that end.

His previous stint in Boston was pretty forgettable, but he has more experience and skill now after playing five years in Europe. There, eh became a reliable floor-spacer and decision-makrer, all while retaining his bruising play style and defense that made the Celtics draft him in the first place.

Every team needs a player like Yabusele who is willing to do the dirty work, even if he doesn’t get his numbers, especially among a star-studded deck. And fueled by an itch to truly make his NBA comeback a permanent one, he will be hungry to prove himself on a bigger stage and bolster his stock in the big league.

While there’s still a bit of a cloud at this point, the Philadelphia 76ers could be in for a treat with a hungry Guerschon Yabusele on the board who can help give the team a lift on both ends, especially on the less glamorous end.

He can throw down a hell of a dunk, too, for additional style points.