French Forward Gershon Yabusele Explains Why He Left the NBA for EuroLeague

Gershon Yabusele, the French forward who recently joined Panathinaikos, opened up about his decision to return to the EuroLeague after a stint in the NBA. Despite interest from teams like Hapoel Tel Aviv, Yabusele chose to come back to Europe this summer, describing the decision as significant and difficult. He consulted with his wife, agents, and mentor before concluding that staying in the NBA with limited playing time was not the right path for him.

Yabusele began the previous NBA season with the New York Knicks but was traded to the Chicago Bulls after struggling for minutes. He explained that Knicks coach Mike Brown preferred his starting five to play heavy minutes, leaving little opportunity for bench players like himself. "After three poor games in New York, they already wanted to trade me," Yabusele said, adding that he realized early on that the season would be very challenging for him.

Reflecting on other French players who stayed in the NBA for years with minimal playing time, Yabusele emphasized his desire to control his own future rather than passively accept a similar fate. He also praised young star Victor Wembanyama, noting that Wembanyama continues to develop new moves each summer and dominates his position with exceptional adaptability.

Yabusele's move to Panathinaikos marks a return to European basketball where he aims for a more prominent role and consistent minutes on the court.