French Forward Gershon Yabusele Explains Decision to Join Panathinaikos

Gershon Yabusele, a sought-after French forward in the EuroLeague, officially joined the Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos this week. After attracting interest from several top clubs, including Hapoel Tel Aviv, Yabusele arrived in Athens on Thursday and shared the reasons behind his choice to sign with Panathinaikos.

Yabusele emphasized his strong motivation to return to Europe and highlighted the club's ambitious goals as a key factor in his decision. He also mentioned the influence of teammates Mostafa Fall and Mathias Lessort, who encouraged him to join. The enthusiastic support from Panathinaikos fans, who sent him daily messages urging him to come, further convinced him.

The forward recalled his previous encounters with Panathinaikos while playing for Real Madrid and praised the passionate fanbase. He also spoke about a positive conversation with coach Željko Obradović, which played a significant role in his decision. Yabusele maintained close contact with Lessort throughout the season and noted that attempts to bring him to Panathinaikos began as early as the February trade deadline. He described playing alongside Fall and Lessort as special, calling them like brothers who will help him perform well on the court.