Five years removed from his most recent NBA game, and eight years after being selected at No. 16 overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, Guerschon Yabusele has earned a second chance. The 28-year-old took center stage at the 2024 Summer Olympics, playing a starring role as France took home the silver medal.
Just over two months later, Yabusele is proving the Philadelphia 76ers right for believing he can translate his Olympic success to the NBA.
Yabusele resurfaced on the NBA radar after earning FIBA All-Second Team honors for his effort at the Olympics. His return to the Association has been years in the making, however, including a recent stint with Real Madrid that produced two Liga ACB championships and three Spanish Supercup titles.
Shortly after the conclusion of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Yabusele took to X to put the NBA on notice.
Been waiting for a 2nd chance.. I’m ready 😤🧸
— Guerschon Yabusele (@yabusele28) August 11, 2024
Yabusele has hit the ground running with the 76ers, thriving in the preseason and offering reason for optimism over the quality of the team's depth. As Philadelphia approaches the beginning of the regular season, however, questions remain about how he'll fit into Nick Nurse's rotation.
Thankfully, the preseason has shed light on how the next stage of Yabusele's NBA resurgence could play out.
Guerschon Yabusele showings signs of emerging as 76ers' sixth man'
Yabusele began the preseason by posting 15 points, two assists, and one rebound on perfect 6-of-6 shooting from the field against the New Zealand Breakers. He knocked down his only three-point field goal attempt, offering an early response to the critics of his jump shot.
The next time out, he shot 1-of-3 from the field, but knocked down another three in addition to the three rebounds, one offensive board, one assist, one block, and one steal he tallied in 11 minutes.
The performances were adequate for the preseason setting, but little was revealed about his NBA reintroduction. When the Boston Celtics came to town, however, Yabusele found himself in the starting lineup against his former team.
That began the recent string of performances that should have 76ers fans intrigued by how significant of an impact he could have on the team in 2024-25.
Yabusele posted eight points, three rebounds, one offensive board, two assists, and a block while shooting 2-of-4 from beyond the arc against Boston. A game later, he tallied 10 points, 11 rebounds, two offensive boards, three assists, and a block while again going 2-of-4 from distance.
The performances were a shining example of how Yabusele fits as a unique 3-and-D option who can create second chances and even facilitate in limited doses.
It's a perfectly-timed development, as Philadelphia's biggest question mark appears to be depth at forward. Kelly Oubre Jr. should offer support in the backup role at the 3, but the battle between KJ Martin and Yabusele for minutes at the 4 will go a long way toward defining the 76ers' identity and success.
If Yabusele continues to shoot efficiently, corner crash, and provide physicality on both ends of the floor, one of the best starting lineups in the NBA could have its sixth man.