A recent member of the NBA champion New York Knicks is headed back to Europe.
Former Knicks and Chicago Bulls big man Guerschon Yabusele has reportedly agreed to a 3-year contract with Greek basketball powerhouse Panathinaikos. According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the contract will make Yabusele “one of the top three highest-paid European players.”
Free agent forward Guerschon Yabusele has agreed to a three-year deal with Panathinaikos, league sources told @hoopshype. Yabusele will be one of the top three highest-paid European players. He's averaged 8.3 points over the past two NBA seasons with the 76ers, Bulls and Knicks. pic.twitter.com/UjfAxXy5S0
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 8, 2026
Yabusele, a former first-round pick drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2016, played just two NBA seasons before later suiting up for Spanish club Real Madrid from 2021 to 2024. He got back on the NBA radar with a standout performance in France’s Olympic gold medal game against Team USA in the 2024 Olympics.
The 6’7″ power forward made his NBA return in the 2024-25 campaign with the Philadelphia 76ers. He reportedly paid $1 million of his $2.5 million buyout with Real Madrid to sign a $2.1 million deal with the Sixers, only for the team to allegedly lowball him the following offseason. He averaged 11.0 points and 5.6 rebounds for a tanking Philly squad that year.
Yabusele parlayed his productive comeback year into a 2-year, $11.7 million contract with the Knicks. New York traded Yabusele to the Chicago Bulls for Dalen Terry, who was eventually dealt for fan favorite Jose Alvarado.
In January, Yabusele revealed the perks that come with playing at least five seasons in the NBA, and stated that it was his goal to make it to that mark. Last year marked just his fourth season of NBA experience. But assuming the Knicks still also sent him a championship ring, he may have already gotten the most coveted prize the league has to offer.
