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Yabusele, who finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds, didn\u2019t play much with the Knicks, averaging just 8.9 minutes in 41 appearances before being traded to the Bulls before the deadline<\/a>.<\/p>\n It was a disappointment after Yabusele signed a two-year, $11 million deal as a free agent in the summer.<\/p>\n Team president Leon Rose effectively flipped the Frenchman for Jose Alvarado<\/a>, a move that wouldn\u2019t have been possible if Yabusele hadn\u2019t waived the second year of his contract.<\/p>\n So Yabusele did the Knicks a solid on his way out.<\/p>\n Guerschon Yabusele reacts after hitting a 3-pointer during the Bulls\u2019 Feb. 22 loss to the Knicks. AP<\/p>\n The rumor, though unconfirmed by Yabusele, is that he\u2019s secured a lucrative deal overseas next season to make up for the lost money.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n He has been playing much heavier minutes with the Bulls, who are playing for better odds in the draft lottery, and started Sunday against the Knicks.<\/p>\n Yabusele entered the game shooting 42 percent from deep over six appearances \u2014 way above his 29.4 percent with the Knicks.<\/p>\n He was also averaging 10.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in over 24 minutes with Chicago.<\/p>\n Bulls coach Billy Donovan lauded Yabusele\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s always using his voice in a positive way, trying to uplift guys,\u201d Donovan said. \u201cGives you some flexibility. Can play him at the center spot, at the power forward spot. But just his overall spirit has been good.\u201d<\/p>\n Guerschon Yabusele (l.) defends during the Bulls\u2019 loss to the Knicks on Feb. 22. Imagn Images<\/p>\n There were no complaints about Yabusele\u2019s attitude with the Knicks.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n He just didn\u2019t fit in Brown\u2019s plans for a system predicated on movement off the ball.<\/p>\n \u201cHis skill set is obviously as a small-ball center. And it\u2019s picking and popping. And then it\u2019s spacing the floor. And the way we try to play, we try to move a lot. Cut a lot,\u201d Brown said. \u201cAnd then it\u2019s tough because we have [Karl-Anthony Towns] playing heavy minutes, and we have [Mitchell Robinson] playing heavy minutes. This is a situation in Chicago \u2014 and even in Philadelphia [where Yabusele was last season], it was a situation where they were able to find consistent minutes for him. Because he\u2019s a good player. Started for the French national team. We all know what they did. The style of play is a little bit different.\u201d<\/p>\n Mitchell Robinson sat again Sunday after playing a night earlier in a victory over the Rockets<\/a>, but Brown didn\u2019t want to declare his backup center would never play both games of a back-to-back.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not 100 percent for sure,\u201d Brown said. \u201cObviously he hasn\u2019t played a back-to-back yet.But I\u2019m not talking to our medical staff asking, \u2018Is this going to be like this the rest of the year?\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Brown said the medical staff informs him that Robinson, who is load-managing his surgically repaired ankle, won\u2019t play both games.<\/p>\n Then the coach decides which of the two games Robinson will suit up.<\/p>\n The Knicks only have three more back-to-back sets.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a Knicks connection to the U.S. Olympic hockey glory<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Guerschon](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/71aa19b8767e2b9fca7ab86a52ec4cea.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n![\"Guerschon](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/a489098d642ba2a7f426a1a9e1574034.jpeg\"\/)
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