The Philadelphia 76ers made official this Thursday the arrival of French basketball player Guerschon Yabusele, who is making his return to the NBA after playing for Real Madrid for the last three seasons and after a successful Olympic tournament.
“Yabusele arrives in Philadelphia after representing his country, France, in an impressive Olympic campaign that resulted in a silver medal.“, the Pennsylvania franchise wrote in its statement.
In the middle of the day, the Real Madrid has made official the departure of its 28-year-old power forward who will wear number 28 at the Sixers.
“Real Madrid and Guerschon Yabusele have agreed to end his career as a player at our club“, the Spanish team announced in a statement, wishing to express “his gratitude and affection for the three seasons in which he defended our jersey, with which he won 7 titles: 1 European Cup, 2 Spanish Championships, 1 Copa del Rey and 3 Spanish Super Cups“.
It was left over will make his big comeback in the NBA, he who had been selected in the 2016 draft by the Boston Celtics without managing to impose itself there before the franchise terminated its contract in 2019 after a stint in China.
The impressively built interior (2.04 m, 123 kg) had left the NBA “with a real feeling of unfinished business since he never really had his chance. There were a lot of people in his position and therefore few opportunities“, had indicated Wednesday to the AFP the French player’s agent, Olivier Mazet.
This great return, the native of Dreux (Eure-et-Loir) hoped for it without hiding: “I’m waiting for a second chance… I’m ready“, he said on X on August 11, the day after his monstrous performance in the Olympic final against the Americans.
According to his agent, the Frenchman signed “a guaranteed one-season contract“of 2.1 million dollars (about 1.9 million euros). “This will give him the possibility of then being able to extend with the Sixers or to commit to another team.” he continued.
Leaving the Real Just before the season resumes, however, he will have to free himself from a transfer clause set at 2.5 million euros, which he will pay largely out of his own pocket since NBA franchises cannot spend more than 850,000 dollars (a little over 762,000 euros) in this type of transfer.
Brilliant during the Olympic tournament, the former player of ASVEL was one of the most decisive French players, scoring 22, 17 and 20 points respectively against the Canada, Germany and the United States in the quarter, semi and final. He also distinguished himself with a sensational “poster dunk” on the legend LeBron Jameswhose images have traveled around the world and are now sold as derivative products.
