The Philadelphia Sixers wanted to retain Guerschon Yabusele over the summer, but according to him, the offer was "really low," so he signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Knicks instead. It turns out that was a blessing in disguise for Philadelphia, as Yabusele looks nothing like the player [he was last season](https://thesixersense.com/knicks-are-close-to-a-guerschon-yabusele-realization-the-76ers-narrowly-avoided) for the Sixers.
He's averaging 2.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game, shooting 36.5% from the field and 28.6% from three in 10.3 minutes across 18 games. New York thought that his shooting and versatility would be a plus off the bench under Mike Brown, but Yabusele has struggled through the first quarter of the season. He hasn't scored in double digits once.
The signing that many labeled as a steal for the Knicks during the offseason has turned out to be the opposite. It's understandable why Yabusele left Philadelphia for more money in New York, but it's a good thing the Sixers [didn't try to convince him to stay](https://thesixersense.com/76ers-vindicated-for-letting-former-forward-walk-in-free-agency-trendon-watford).
It's still too early to write Yabusele off, and perhaps he would've been better off staying in Philadelphia, but the version of the player he was last season is creeping further and further away.
Former Sixers forward Guerschon Yabusele is struggling in New York
------------------------------------------------------------------
Yabusele is coming off his best game with the Knicks, as he recorded seven points (3-of-5), four rebounds, and one assist in 10 minutes during New York's 116-94 win over Toronto on Monday. While that's encouraging for the Knicks, the fact that it's been his best performance this far says a lot.
Maybe it is the start of Yabusele turning a corner, gaining some confidence to knock down shots, and growing more comfortable in his spot in the frontcourt. New York can only hope, especially with Karl-Anthony Towns shooting 44.9% from the field and 32.7% from three. The more shooting they have off the bench, which averages 33.1 points per game, 26th in the league, the better. That was part of the rationale for signing Yabusele, after all.
Watching Yabusele hustle and play with high energy was one of the lone positives from a disastrous 2024-25 Sixers season. It stung when he signed a deal with the Knicks, of all teams. It's perfectly normal for Philadelphians to root against anything and everything New York does. Yabusele is part of that now, but knowing his backstory, it's hard to root 100 percent _against_ him. If only he weren't in NYC.