Guerschon Yabusele to sign one-year, $2.1M deal with 76ers, report says

Following an impressive performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, French forward Guerschon Yabusele is set to join the Philadelphia 76ers on a one-year, $2.1 million contract, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. During the Olympic tournament, Yabusele demonstrated his scoring ability, averaging 14 points and 3.3 rebounds per game with a shooting percentage of 52% from the field, making him France’s second-leading scorer.

Yabusele truly shone in the quarterfinal match against Canada, a game where many believed Canada would secure victory. He scored 22 points, leading France to a decisive win that propelled them into the semifinals. His ascent to the starting lineup came after Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier faced challenges during the group stage. Faced with the opportunity, Yabusele proved his worth, consistently leading France in scoring for the remainder of the tournament.

Before this deal with the 76ers, Yabusele had one year remaining on his contract with EuroLeague giant Real Madrid, valued at $2.5 million. His new agreement suggests he is negotiating a buyout, leaving speculation that he might have completed the season in Spain before aiming for an NBA return next year. However, following his standout Olympic performance—including scoring 20 points in the gold-medal match against Team USA—Yabusele likely felt it was the right time to make a move.

After helping France secure a silver medal, Yabusele expressed his eagerness to return to the NBA. He took to his social media to say, “Been waiting for a 2nd chance.. I’m ready.” This statement reflects both his passion for the game and his desire to prove himself in the league once more.

This will mark Yabusele’s second appearance in the NBA. He was drafted 16th overall by the Boston Celtics in 2016 but played only 74 games in two seasons, averaging just six minutes of playtime. After being waived by the Celtics in 2019, he ventured overseas, finding success in both France and China before solidifying his career with Real Madrid for the last three seasons.

Despite a challenging initial stint in the NBA, Yabusele is now better prepared to be a valuable role player. His physicality allows him to drive in and score, and he has developed his shooting ability, especially from beyond the arc—an improvement compared to when he first entered the league. This represents a win-win scenario for the Sixers who signed him for a minimum deal. If Yabusele can replicate his Olympic success, he could become a crucial bench player for a team aiming for a championship this season. And if he encounters difficulties, the one-year contract means the team can easily adjust for the following season.

Yabusele has already demonstrated his capability to compete effectively at the NBA level, and his addition to the 76ers may well strengthen their roster significantly, increasing their odds in the upcoming season.