Guerschon Yabusele: A Refreshing Bright Spot In A Tough Sixers Season
The Philadelphia 76ers entered the 2024-25 season with one of the most loaded frontcourts in the NBA. The first half didn’t unfold the way they planned, but a pleasant surprise has emerged in the paint at the Wells Fargo Center.
Guerschon Yabusele returned to the NBA this summer on a one-year deal worth only $2.1 million with Philadelphia. He’s somehow contributed more than an injured Joel Embiid and jumped 13-year veteran Andre Drummond on the depth chart.
Guerschon Yabusele
The 6-foot-8 French big man helped the host country to a silver medal at the Paris Olympics in 2024. He decided to pursue a second stint in the NBA after two underwhelming seasons with the Boston Celtics in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
A team that’s struggled with injuries as badly as the Sixers inevitably leaves opportunity for breakout seasons from lesser known players. Yabusele brought energy in limited minutes behind Drummond in the early weeks of the season and quickly proved himself as a better immediate starting lineup option in Embiid’s absence.
Drummond sat out against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 11, and his understudy fell only one rebound shy of a double-double.
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Since then, Yabusele has started 16 of the 27 games he’s played, averaging 26.9 minutes. Drummond has averaged just 14.8 minutes in the 16 games he’s played during the same time span.
Yabusele uses his thick build to drive to the basket with strength in favorable matchups against thinner NBA big men.
“He’s got the build of a mobile tight end in the National Football League!” -Tom McGinnis on 97.5 The Fanatic
Yabusele’s season scoring average has reached double figures, and he’s impressively shot over 39% from beyond the three-point line. Nick Nurse spoke on January 8 after his breakout big man provided a spark with five triples in a home win against the Washington Wizards.
“He plays hard, and he’s kind of in the right place at the right time. He probably plays much bigger than he is. He scores at the rim over bigger people. He blocks shots like a bigger center.” -Nick Nurse
Yabusele has somehow found an NBA home at age 29 after stints in France, China, and Spain and Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo and Paris.
When Philadelphia fans think of the 2016 NBA Draft, their minds will drift towards the Boston Celtics nabbing Jaylen Brown two picks after the Sixers drafted Ben Simmons with the top pick.
However, both teams owned two additional first-round picks.
The Celtics thought spending the 16th-overall selection on Yabusele didn’t work out, but Sixers fans pray that they might’ve finally stumbled onto some luck at the expense of a franchise that’s fleeced them too many times.
Daryl Morey, Sixers at NBA Trade Deadline
Daryl Morey must consider a variety of options ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline on February 6. His team’s future rests on the health of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George.
The trio of All-Stars hasn’t found a winning formula without enough time on the court this season. If the Sixers still sit in 10th or 11th place in the days leading up to the deadline, Morey would have to seriously consider selling pieces from a team that expected to contend for the NBA Finals when the season began.
Who is the most logical option to move? Philadelphia’s breakout big man Guerschon Yabusele.
If Morey believes Yabusele won’t return in 2025-26, he could acquire some draft capital.
However, the Sixers would still control the fierce Frenchman’s rights during the offseason. They could exercise the option to bring him back at 120% of his 2024-25 salary or 120% of the veteran minimum.
The decision isn’t independent of Yabusele. NBA roster construction involves such heavy investments in the top of a team’s roster that role players automatically face uncertainty with any short-term contract.
If the Sixers find a better rhythm before February 6, they probably won’t trade Yabusele. If they go on a playoff run with contributions from their backup center, they’ll look to retain him next season.
Unfortunately, neither are in the realm of reasonable likelihood without Joel Embiid on the court.
