Guerschon Yabusele

Guerschon Yabusele's Biography

Guerschon Yabusele, a French professional basketball player, was born on 17 December 1995. Known for his power forward position, Yabusele stands tall at 2.04 m. Today, he brings his athletic prowess to the Philadelphia 76ers team of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His skill on the court stretches beyond club lines as he competes with the French national team, contributing to their silver medal triumph at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics.

Yabusele was born in Dreux, France, to parents who had migrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He honed his athletic skills in his youth as a boxer, making a choice to play basketball later on in 2012 for the youth sections of Chorale Roanne Basket.

In 2013, he joined the Chorale Roanne team in the LNB Pro B, a lower-level French league. During his first season, he averaged 1.5 points in 8 appearances. The following season was more successful, with Yabusele averaging six points, four rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.

Seeking to prove himself further, Yabusele played for Rouen Métropole Basket of the LNB Pro A, France’s top league, in 2015. His impressive performance landed him a spot as one of 13 international underclassmen—and one of four Frenchmen—to enter the 2016 NBA draft. Despite predictions that he’d be a later pick, Yabusele surprised many by being the 16th overall selection by the Boston Celtics.

Yabusele’s time in the NBA started with the Boston Celtics in 2017, where he gained split time with the Maine Red Claws, an affiliate of the Celtics. Despite playing fewer minutes, he still managed to win the hearts of fans who awarded him the nickname “The Dancing Bear.” During this period, Yabusele also played in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and his home country’s LNB Pro B league.

In July 2016, Yabusele signed with the Shanghai Sharks of the CBA. Throughout 43 games with the Sharks, he averaged 20.9 points and 9.4 rebounds, earning him a CBA All-Star title. By March of 2017, Yabusele had signed with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League, and later on in July, he officially joined the Boston Celtics. Although his time with the Celtics ended in July 2019, Yabusele’s career highs for points, rebounds, and assists were all achieved during the 2017-18 season with the team.

Post Celtics, Yabusele returned to the CBA, signing with the Nanjing Monkey Kings for the 2019-2020 season. In early 2020, he returned to France and continued to play for ASVEL of the French LNB Pro A.

Yabusele decided to move to Spain in July 2021, signing a one-year contract with Real Madrid of the Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. His performance with the team led to a three-year extension, which would have kept him with Real Madrid till the 2024-2025 season. However, in August 2024, Yabusele left Real Madrid and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Yabusele’s international basketball career began with representing his home country at the 2013 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship and then subsequently with the under-20 team in 2014 and 2015. At the 2020 Olympics, he helped his national team secure a silver medal and replicated their triumph at EuroBasket 2022. The 2024 Olympics was especially rewarding as Yabusele shone throughout the competition, leading his team to victory over Canada in the quarter-finals, followed by a semi-final win against Germany. Despite a close loss against the United States in the final, Yabusele’s exceptional performance contributed to yet another Olympic silver medal for his team. He created a memorable moment during the final by scoring a poster dunk on LeBron James. Undeniably, Guerschon Yabusele’s basketball journey reflects a story of determination, resilience, and skill.