A Strange Chapter Ends
Guerschon Yabusele’s stint in New York will always be a weird blip in Knicks history. Years down the line, trivia nights will bring up his name. Fans will recall the turbulence he endured, but they’ll also remember the selfless move he made to help the roster. On the court, this French forward didn’t leave much to be desired, even if the situation was rough from the jump. He got deployed in ways that masked his best skills. The role was limited and inconsistent. Getting into a rhythm? Nearly impossible.
Yabusele arrived heavier than the previous season. The effort was there, but the results weren’t. His shooting was erratic, sometimes downright bad. The looks in the paint didn’t feel much better. In no particular facet did he provide significant value. Yet he won over the hearts of fans on his way out. He did them a huge favor by restructuring his contract. To make the Jose Alvarado trade possible, he removed his $5.8 million player option (a move he didn’t have to make). By that point, he’d already fallen out of the rotation, racking up occasional DNPs and playing very sparing minutes.
The Hard Reality of New York
The Knicks might hand Yabusele a ring now. He fully deserves one after what Alvarado did to bring the city its first NBA championship in 53 years. But the time in the city wasn’t always kind. Yabusele recently spoke with as.com about his decision to leave the NBA again. He walked through the long process behind the move. He stated that the lengthy procedure involved numerous inquiries, making this remark difficult to utter. He remembered French teammates who went through the same thing. They were there without playing for years. He told himself he couldn’t do that.
He made it clear that he wanted to decide his own fate. Regarding his tenure in New York, the backup big man discussed the severity of the challenges. He still has fond memories of the city itself. But the pressure on the court was intense. Yabusele noted that in New York, after two or three bad games, they’re already asking to trade you. That’s a harsh reality for any player. The fans and the media don’t wait long to call for change.
Coach Brown’s Minutes Puzzle
Yabusele also revealed what head coach Mike Brown told him about playing time. The coach wanted his five starters to play 38 minutes each. He added that Mitchell Robinson deserved his 26 minutes. Do the math on that. The total minutes for the main guys were very high. What puzzled Yabusele most was what the coach didn’t mention. He talked about the five starters and Robinson. But he didn’t talk about Landry or Jordan Clarkson. He didn’t talk about all the others who were also there. If you add all of them up, technically there are no minutes left for anyone else.
Choosing a Fresh Start
This explains why Yabusele chose to go back overseas. The math simply didn’t work for him in New York. He couldn’t sit on the bench for years without playing. The decision was his alone to make. It was a smart move for a player who wants to be active. The Knicks get a player they needed in Alvarado. Yabusele gets a chance to play again. It was a trade that helped both sides in the end. The ring he might get later is a nice bonus. But the freedom to play is the real prize for him. New York fans will remember him for the good he did. The team moves on with a deeper roster now. The next season will look very different without the French big man.
