One year later, Guerschon Yabusele’s dunk still resonates: « I need to move on, but it was a unique feeling »
New captain of Les Bleus for Eurobasket, Guerschon Yabusele (6’8″, 29 years old) returns to the French national team after a highly successful season marking his NBA comeback. The « Dancing Bear » had caught franchises’ attention last summer at the Olympics, thanks to a heroic campaign that reached the finals, but especially due to one legendary play.
#Paris2024 | 😱 YABUSELE’S MONUMENTAL POSTER ON LEBRON JAMES 🔥
📺 Follow the final: https://t.co/hHHwOiAOqk pic.twitter.com/mjd4EUjd9k
— francetvsport (@francetvsport) August 10, 2024
Having returned from the United States in 2019 « without any NBA opportunities, » Guerschon Yabusele realizes that his performances last summer changed everything: « The Olympics changed the course of my career, 100%. I need to move on, but it was a unique feeling. With everything that followed, including the NBA return, the year has been crazy. It would be a lie to say I don’t think about it, but I have to move forward, » he expresses with a telling smile about this lifelong memory.
« Players’ perception of me has changed »
While his off-court notoriety peaked even in the United States, Guerschon Yabusele also noticed a change in how his peers viewed him. « Players’ perception of me has changed, they recognize my true value. During the year, players would congratulate me mid-game or right after matches for that play. I even heard Kevin Durant say I deserved my NBA spot, that I was where I belonged. Obviously, that’s motivating. »
Still trying to move forward, Guerschon Yabusele hasn’t discussed the play with his « victim. » « I didn’t really talk with LeBron when we played the Lakers, because it happened during a period when we needed to win, » he recalls. But he reassures: « There’s definitely respect. He’s a player… with such a career (he sighs)… I don’t need to list everything he’s done (smiles). When I play against him, I don’t trash talk. I play my game and enjoy my NBA return, while fighting to stay there. » His humility paid off: Guerschon Yabusele signed a new NBA contract with the New York Knicks.
Commentaires