Guerschon Yabusele is leaving the NBA for the second time. The veteran big man has agreed to a three-year contract with Panathinaikos in Greece, according to Mike Scotto of HoopsHype. He’ll become one of the three highest-paid players in the EuroLeague with the deal.
This move comes after Yabusele spent the 2025-26 season bouncing between the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks, averaging 8.3 points per game over the past two NBA seasons with the 76ers, Bulls, and Knicks. The free agent market dried up fast this summer, and Yabusele chose guaranteed money and star status in Europe over chasing a fringe roster spot stateside.
What makes this decision interesting is what Yabusele said earlier this year. He told Just Riadh via Yahoo that his goal was to play five seasons in the NBA. Why? Because after five years, an NBA player gets lifetime medical coverage for their entire family. After four, it’s just for the player. After three, you get a lifetime pension.
“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,” Yabusele said at the time.
He’s currently at four years of NBA service. This new deal puts him one season short of that family coverage goal. That stings, but it’s not necessarily permanent.
The Contract Could Have an NBA Escape Hatch
It’s worth noting that these EuroLeague deals often include NBA opt-outs. Players like Shane Larkin and Mike James have used similar clauses to test the waters mid-contract. So Yabusele could theoretically come back next season or the year after if an NBA team comes calling with a minimum deal. The Panathinaikos contract is reportedly for three years, but nobody outside the front offices knows the fine print yet.
For now, Yabusele is 30 years old and headed to Greece as a featured piece. He’ll join a Panathinaikos team that regularly competes for EuroLeague titles and plays in front of one of the most passionate fanbases in European basketball. The money is better than what he’d get on a veteran minimum in the NBA, and the role will be bigger too.
But make no mistake. This wasn’t the dream. Yabusele wanted that fifth season for his family’s security. He came up one year short. Whether he gets another shot at it depends on how this Greek chapter plays out and whether an NBA team needs a 6’8″ stretch big who can body up EuroLeague centers. The NBA door isn’t locked. It’s just harder to open from across the Atlantic.
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