New York Knicks power forward Guerschon Yabusele is an afterthought buried on the team’s frontcourt depth chart.
He’s a mere insurance behind the likes of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby, but he’s not really after big minutes on the floor. He understands his role and, most especially, the practical reason that is fueling his desire to stay a member of a team in the NBA.
“If you play three years in the NBA, you get a lifetime pension. After four seasons, medical expenses are covered for life,” Yabusele said in an interview with a French YouTuber and as translated by BasketNews.
“And after five years, the medical coverage is extended to the entire family. I want to play for five years here in the NBA so that my family can benefit from that lifetime care. You never know what can happen in life.”
The 30-year-old Yabusele could have just played in Europe and enjoyed a more prominent role on the court, but it is obviously hard for him to say no to the NBA, given the said benefits.
According to Spotrac, Yabusele has earned over $16 million in his NBA career through 2025. Even after taxes and other deductions, that kind of money could set someone up for life, but Yabusele has his own plans.
Yabusele was selected in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics, but he played in China and in the NBA Development League first before making his NBA debut in the 2017-18 campaign. His tenure with Boston ended when the team waived him in the summer of 2019.
Yabusele continued his pro career in China, France and Spain before deciding to make an NBA comeback in 2024, signing a 1-year, $2.08 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. In July of 2025, he inked a 2-year, $11.28 million deal with the Knicks.
Given that his main goal is to play five years at least in the NBA, Yabusele can be expected to pick up his player option for the 2026-27 NBA season.
