Yabusele Navigates Weight Controversy with Confidence
CHARLOTTE — Gershon Yabusele is no stranger to talk about his weight, but he’s chosen to tune it out.
It’s a bit perplexing, really.
“I’ve heard the chatter, and I could address it if I wanted to, but I’d rather not,” Yabusele mentioned. “People will say what they want. I had my weight checked last year, and it was the same. So if it was fine last year, what’s the issue this year? Honestly, I’m lighter than I was last year.”
Yabusele is listed at 283 pounds by the Knicks, placing him among the heaviest players in the NBA. Adding to the confusion, various sources had him at 265 pounds last season, which was clearly off. According to the 76ers’ media guide, where he played last season, his weight was documented at 279 pounds.
Regardless, Yabusele asserts he’s not worried about the weight debate and feels fit as he works through his shooting issues and limited game time with his new team.
“I’m not focused on anything but what I need to do,” he said. “I feel great, really good, so this is where I’m at right now.”
It’s pretty safe to say that Yabusele doesn’t have the slender build typical of some athletes. His physique leans more toward that of a middle linebacker than a wide receiver. His strength was viewed as an asset for defending centers, even if he was a bit under-sized for that job.
After a standout season with the Sixers, the Knicks brought Yabusele on board with a two-year, $11 million deal, which comes with a player option for the second year. He was intended to be a key reserve in the frontcourt as the team aims for a title.
However, as new coach Mike Brown advocates for a quicker style of play, Yabusele’s role has diminished, and he has faced challenges. Before the game against the Hornets, he averaged just 2.7 points over 10.5 minutes per game and shot only 34.9 percent overall, with a meager 27.6 percent from three-point range.
Before OG Anunoby’s hamstring injury, Yabusele’s playing time was limited to six minutes or less in consecutive games. For instance, in a matchup against the Nets, despite several key players being sidelined, he only clocked 12 minutes, playing in spurts of two to four minutes without exceeding 17 games as of Wednesday.
Brown sets predetermined minutes for players each game and typically sticks to that plan.
This new reality is tough for Yabusele, who had averaged over 27 minutes last season and was the captain of the French national team during the European Championships this summer. This isn’t quite how the Knicks envisioned things after investing heavily to secure Yabusele’s talents.
“Of course, I’m finding it challenging. I can’t lie,” Yabusele admitted. “Things are different these days. I had more minutes last year too. I’m just trying to adapt to my new role and perform my best.”
However, his shooting struggles may not be helping his case. Last season with the Knicks, he averaged 3.9 three-point attempts per game at a 38% success rate, but by Wednesday, that had fallen to 27.6% on fewer attempts of 1.9 per game.
At least recently, he’s shown some improvement, hitting 4 out of 11 three-point attempts in the six games leading up to the Charlotte game.
“Shots can fluctuate during the season,” Yabusele explained. “Looking back at last season, I had games where I scored a lot more than others. Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don’t. I’ll keep training daily, hitting the gym, and whenever I’m on the court, I’ll be ready.”
Ultimately, Yabusele asserts that conditioning is not the problem.
“I feel good out there. I feel great right now,” he expressed. “Just trying to keep it up, work on my body, and be as ready as possible when I’m on the court.”
