The New York Knicks had a busy offseason as they not only had to find a new head coach, but also bring valuable additions to the roster that would help them get over the hump in the Eastern Conference.
Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson were the two free agency moves made by the franchise.
While Clarkson has been around the league with teams like the LA Lakers and Utah Jazz, Yabusele went to Europe after a tough couple of years in the league, before making a return last season.
He played for the Philadelphia 76ers and became one of the fan favorites there due to his playing style.
However, there are doubts whether he will be able to bring the same athleticism and brilliance to the New York Knicks.
Photo by Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesChris Mannix has doubts about Yabusele
Yabusele was drafted by the Boston Celtics as the 16th overall pick in 2016. But he struggled in his two seasons there and moved to play in China.
The French national eventually ended up playing for European heavyweights Real Madrid and impressed with his performances there.
He represented France in the Paris Olympics and had a poster dunk over LeBron James in the gold medal game. Things started to pick up for Yabusele from there, and the 76ers decided to give him a chance on their roster.
While Chris Mannix acknowledged his brilliance in Philly, he questioned if it was sustainable for another year.
Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images
Speaking about Yabusele on Sports Illustrated, Mannix said: “Great year for Yabusele last year, is it sustainable?
“He played 70 games and was at times the best player on Philadelphia. I just remember him from Boston, and he wasn’t any more than kind of a bit player.
“So what is he? Is he close to the guy he was in Philadelphia? Somewhere in between? I don’t know. But I think getting those guys certainly helps.”
Yabusele will be vital to the Knicks rotation
Tom Thibodeau’s biggest flaw as head coach of the Knicks was his refusal to show faith in his rotation.
With the arrival of Mike Brown, that is expected to change, as he likes playing with speed and producing more offensive possessions.
Yabusele could play important minutes off the bench and give players like Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby a lot of support when he comes to replace them.
“He’s saying to Greece and Giannis ‘You gotta guard me’”
Guerschon Yabusele lights it up from deep as France thumps Greece 92-77
Captain Yabu’s French squad now 5-0 heading into EuroBasket 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/zB5ulSsKCT
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) August 24, 2025
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He showed off his ability to shoot from deep in the EuroBasket game against Greece, which left the fans impressed.
His first stint in the NBA was underwhelming, but Yabusele was a young player from Europe back then. He has since evolved and gained a lot of experience, even captaining France in tournaments.
The 29-year-old will not only bring athleticism and solidity off the bench but also be a key voice in the locker room to help the Knicks finally win a championship.