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.
Guerschon Yabusele is set to be an extra weapon at forward
The Philadelphia 76ers brought in a few specialists for the team during the offseason. Yabusele is a great change of pace, as he can contribute on both ends of the floor. The fact that he was signed to a minimum deal will offer him the chance to play with a chip on his shoulder. The French international will have to prove that he belongs to the NBA, and that's good news for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Yabusele is a physical specimen due to his upper-body strength and his excellent athletic tools. The Frenchman is fearless, and he proved it during the gold medal game against Team USA when he put LeBron James on a poster. I will not be surprised to see the strong-willed forward winning starter minutes on the wing if Caleb Martin goes through a cold stretch.
Yabusele shot over 40% from deep during the last three EuroLeague seasons and comes off a breakout year when he put up 10.5 points on 56/46/86 shooting splits and a career-high 4.9 rebounds in almost 24 minutes per game. His ability to attack the paint and take advantage of defensive gaps is well documented in his play overseas, while he thrives when he competes alongside star players who can attract the defense and create open shots.
During the last two years, he shot 152 threes in the EuroLeague, playing for a title contender in Madrid. His lack of fearfulness helps him to be a factor in the big games, while his commitment to his teammates allows him to be part of the plan without hindering the team's flow.
The 76ers could provide the ideal platform for Yabusele's revenge season
Guerschon Yabusele was part of the Boston Celtics between 2017 and 2019. He spent most of his time in the G League and had some spurts with a young Celtics team at the time, which were not enough to keep him in the NBA. That said, it was clear all these years that the French international wanted to return, and his great achievements with Real Madrid and France offered him the ticket to get back in the league.
Yabusele fought hard all these years in the EuroLeague, and I know that he will play for his next deal after signing for just the minimum in Philadelphia. Be sure that he won't let this chance slip after getting back to the NBA, so expect to show a ton of tenacity from day 1. That could help the 76ers in a long season, even if they cannot retain him on their roster for many years.
Let's not forget that Philadelphia is entering a championship or bust season, and they will need to show resilience against their Eastern Conference rivals. In addition to that, Yabusele got used to playing under immense pressure during his time at Real Madrid, as the Spanish team is one of the biggest clubs in the world.
The forward from France will not have an issue with the 76ers' demanding fanbase, and his competitive spirit that was forged through the years will translate well for the franchise. Expect Yabusele to blend in well and help the Sixers and himself towards achieving their goals this season.
