Guerschon Yabusele's career-high 36 points in France's EuroBasket 2025 win over Poland drew praise from Isaia Cordinier, who called him "our leader, our captain," and Elie Okobo, who lauded his efficient, unselfish play on both ends.
New York Knicks forward Guerschon Yabusele was the hero for Team France in a crucial FIBA EuroBasket 2025 victory over Poland, dropping a career-high 36 points (12/20 FG, 6/12 3PT) along with six rebounds and two blocks in an 83-76 win at Spodek Arena.
Player of the Game
Guerschon Yabusele
33
Guerschon Yabusele
Points
Accuracy
Rebounds
Assists
The performance left fans stunned, but his teammates weren't surprised to see their captain take charge.
"It's funny because I told him, 'Go, get points.' We sometimes need him in a bit of a selfish way, be aggressive, and then the floors will be open for you," wing Isaia Cordinier said post-game.
"I feel like the coaching staff and we, players, did go to find him in a good rhythm as well, finding better solutions, and I mean, then he did the job. He played a hell of a game. He's our leader. He's our captain, and we have to follow him."
Cordinier, who once shared the floor with French legends like Nando De Colo and Nicolas Batum, praised Yabusele's leadership as the national team enters a new era.
"He's doing amazing," Cordinier noted. "He's very vocal and leads by example. For us—the new veterans, even though we're still young—it's about building that same bond and chemistry. Nothing can break that."
Elie Okobo also had a standout game, recording a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists. The AS Monaco guard credited Yabusele for lifting the team.
"At the end of the day, he scored 36, but those weren't selfish plays," Okobo underlined. "He took open shots, he was aggressive, and defensively, he was great too. We needed him at that level to compete, and I'm happy for him."
Yabusele's previous national team best also came against Poland, when he scored 22 points in the EuroBasket 2022 semifinal. His six three-pointers on Tuesday tied his career high in all competitions.
With both teams already through to the Round of 16—alongside Israel and Slovenia—France's win has thrown Group D's top spot race wide open, with everything set to be decided on Thursday.
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Pijus Sapetka
Pijus Sapetka began his basketball media career in 2021, building on years of closely following the sport. Since then, he has reported from a variety of basketball events, including the EuroLeague Playoffs, Lithuanian Cups, LKL Finals, EuroCup games, the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, and Goran Dragic's Farewell Game. He holds a degree in Journalism & PR.
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