By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Timing is everything and at 26 years of age, Guerschon Yabusele is reinventing himself after his NBA experience.
The French forward is now a starter both in Real Madrid and in the French national team, and his 74 NBA games with the Celtics are just a footnote.
As he said to the official website of the French basketball federation, at this point basketball for him is synonymous with his “joie de vivre”, the joy of life: “We are paid to do what we love the most. It’s phew! I’m happy with every game, and every practice. Being able to play a EuroBasket with the French team is only positive. I’m super happy. Our group is very special. Every day having fun, and laughing, these are very important positive things in a team. I try to share my joie de vivre”.
However, he wasn’t particularly happy about the performance of the team in the road win in Bologna against Italy: “We made a lot of turnovers, it’s clear that we are in the preparation phase. We should have had a bigger lead but we still won the match”.
And it’s up to him to create a tandem with Rudy Gobert that can be one of the keys for France in the upcoming Eurobasket: “We have a bit of a second leading position in the “4”. I try to find my connection with Rudy. When the ball goes through us it’s difficult for our opponents to defend. I’m comfortable in this situation. Talking in defense, helping my teammates, and having an energizer role. I’m not trying to do too much but to be good”.
Yabusele and the French national team have already returned to Montpellier, where they will practice and host Italy for a second game on Tuesday.