Guerschon Yabusele admitted he doesn't rule out a return to Europe, saying Real Madrid would be one of the first teams he'd like to talk to.
The New York Knicks forward Guerschon Yabusele is not the master of his destiny, as literally no player in the NBA is – a claim based on solid evidence since the infamous Luka Doncic trade.
However, the Frenchman will take back the reins of his future once his current contract expires in June 2027.
He will be 31 years old and will have secured the lifetime pension for the player and family that the NBA grants after five years in the league.
Yabusele's return to Europe remains a real possibility
Therefore, a return to Europe could make sense for the power forward.
"I feel like it's a good question," Yabusele admitted in a conversation with BasketNews. "I definitely don't know what tomorrow is going to be like or anything like that, but I never close my door on anything."
"Obviously, it was hard to come back to the NBA [but once I was here], my mind definitely wanted to stay there, but we'll see when the opportunity presents itself. It's definitely going to be a conversation to have and see what the options are in Europe. We'll see how it goes. I will never say never to anything," Yabusele added.
While discussing his future and as Yabusele addresses trade rumors surrounding his NBA situation, the French player didn't commit to playing for any particular team in his first answer about a second stint in the Old Continent.
Real Madrid among Yabusele's favorites in case of return to Europe
However, he teased a possible return to Real Madrid.
Yabusele has a special affection for the Spanish club, as he made a name for himself in Madrid, helping the club win the EuroLeague in 2023.
"Madrid is going to be, to be honest, I'm going to tell you, one of the first teams that we're going to have the conversation first to try to see how it's going to be," Yabusele revealed. "I'm not closing my door on anything else, but you know, my house is in Madrid."
"I consider myself like somebody who lives there all the time and goes back in the summer. That would be special to be back there," the Knicks forward said.
Credit Irina R. Hipolito/AFP7 via ZUMA Press Wire
A reunion wouldn't be straightforward
Nevertheless, Yabusele admitted that everything might not be as easy as it might look.
"Some of my friends are still on the team, so that would be amazing, but, at the same time, I know how the market goes. They already have a team right now. They signed some guys for years and stuff like that," Frenchman said.
"We'll see, but I don't close my door on anything else," Yabusele concluded.
However, his next stop on his basketball journey might be elsewhere in the US, as Yabusele's trade rumors continue to swirl.
The Only Successful EuroLeague Player In The NBA
Toni Canyameras
Toni Canyameras began his basketball media career in 2021, covering FC Barcelona. He became a fan of the sport thanks to Barça and the Japanese manga series Slam Dunk. Toni moved to Toronto in 2022 and has since been covering the NBA from a European perspective, reporting on games, All-Star weekends, and the Summer League. He holds a degree in Journalism, a Master's Degree in Sports Journalism in Spain, and a Postgraduate in Journalism in Canada.
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