Guerschon Yabusele Ready to Make NBA Comeback

Guerschon Yabusele has made significant strides in his game over the last five years and is now poised to make a triumphant return to the NBA.

Basketball - Olympic Games Paris 2024 - Day 15

Yabusele spent two seasons in Boston from 2017-19, but the Yabusele Celtics fans remember was not this strong, his game was not this polished and mature, and he wasn't a player anywhere close to doing this.

GUERSCHON YABUSELE ON LEBRON JAMES.

NBC and Peacock | #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/cjrH6Q9Epd

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 10, 2024

Yabusele averaged 14 points a game shooting 51.9% in Paris and caught the eye of some NBA front offices during the Games — and he says he wants to return to the NBA.

Been waiting for a 2nd chance.. I’m ready

— Guerschon Yabusele (@yabusele28) August 11, 2024

He looked ready in Paris, although will teams trust him to space the floor (he shot 39.4% from 3 for Real Madrid last season, but 28.6% for France in the Olympics). Then there is the question of money.

Yabusele, 28, is under contract with Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid for next season, but with a $2.5 million NBA buyout,

reports Marc Stein

(who adds it was a $1 million buyout before July 15, but teams were not interested then). Is a team interested enough in Yabusele to pay $2.5 million on top of his salary — he'll want more than the minimum — to bring him over this season?

The more likely outcome is that teams will call him next summer to see if they can work out terms.

Another other French player of note was forward Mathias Lessort, who plays for Panathinaikos of the Greek league.

According to Ian Begley of SNY.TV

, he and the Knicks talked this offseason (before the Paris Olympics).

Did the Knicks consider Lessort as they were searching for depth on the front line earlier this offseason? They did. New York inquired about Lessort's interest in signing but the player and team were unable to find common ground. The Knicks still have an open spot on their 15-man roster.

The Knicks' offer was most likely for a minimum non-guaranteed contract for Lessort, who decided his deal in Greece was better than that. Will Lessort's performance in Paris get the Knicks to raise their offer next offseason? It's something to file away and remember.