Yabusele dunks on LeBron James during the Paris Olympics final (AFP)
According to ESPN and NBC Sports Philadelphia, the former Boston Celtics backup, whose highlight was a dunk on LeBron James in the Olympic final, will sign a one-year contract worth $2.1 million.
French Olympic power forward Guerschon Yabusele has agreed to terms on an NBA contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, according to multiple reports Sunday.
Yabusele helped France win a silver medal behind the United States’ collection of NBA stars at the Paris Olympics.
According to ESPN and NBC Sports Philadelphia, the former Boston Celtics reserve will sign a one-year contract worth $2.1 million.
The 28-year-old Frenchman played 16 games for the Celtics over two seasons ending in 2019. He spent one season in China and another in France before moving to Real Madrid and helping the Spanish team win a 2022-23 EuroBasket crown.
In his last three seasons in the Spanish capital of Madrid, Yabusele the Dancing Bear has won two ACB Liga Endesa titles, three Spanish Super Cups and the Euroleague 2023 in Kaunas, Lithuania.
Yabusele recently hinted that he would jump at the chance to return to the best basketball league on the planet. “I’m waiting for a second chance… I’m ready,” the French international wrote on X after the men’s final of the Paris Games (he won the silver medal after losing in a thrilling final to the United States). A message that many have already interpreted as a desire to try his luck again in the North American league.
His Olympic performances included a sensational dunk over LeBron James in the championship game.
Yabusele scored 22 points against Canada in the Olympic quarterfinals, added 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting to spark a semifinal win over Germany and scored 20 points against the Americans.
The 76ers, who added Paul George to a roster that includes U.S. Olympian Joel Embiid, could use Yabusele in a primary backup role behind Caleb Martin.
(This article has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – AFP)
