Guerschon Yabusele hasn’t seen action in an NBA game since May 8, 2019. It was mop-up duty for the then 23-year-old as the Boston Celtics were eliminated in a lopsided Game 5 loss in the East semi-finals to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Things will be much different the next time Yabusele steps on an NBA court.

The French forward parlayed a Silver medal-winning run at the Paris Olympics into a deal with the Sixers. Now 28, Yabusele had been biding his time, hoping his next chance to play in the NBA would come.

While he’d grown comfortable playing for powerhouse Real Madrid in Spain, the opportunity with the Sixers was one he couldn’t pass up.

“Just to have the second shot, not a lot of people have second shots at the NBA,” he said, “so when the opportunity comes, you don’t think twice.”

While on vacation in Saint Martin after a long season, Yabusele said the only person he was picking up the phone for was his agent. When he got the call about the Sixers’ interest, he excitedly shared the news with his wife and his friends on the trip.

Endorsements of the team and city from fellow French natives and former Sixers Nicolas Batum and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot helped seal the deal.

“I was telling [my agent], ‘Don’t get me excited if it’s nothing,’” Yabusele said. “It was a pretty good conversation and we of course had to stay quiet — to keep something [secret] that was the worst part — but after that, especially today, I felt good and happy to be here.”

When the signing was reported, it felt like a perfect fit for both sides.

Yabusele is a true power forward, standing at 6-foot-8 and listed at 271 pounds — though he looked svelte Friday as he was introduced at the team’s practice facility in Camden, New Jersey. He’s strong, physical and plays with an edge.

Looking up and down the Sixers’ roster after a strong offseason, there is no player like Yabusele on it. It appears the team will go into the season starting a wing trio — Paul George, Caleb Martin and Kelly Oubre, Jr. — instead of using a traditional power forward. Off the bench, young players like KJ Martin and Ricky Council IV could provide minutes at the four, but Yabusele is ideally suited for that position.

Heck, in the right matchup, Yabusele could potentially provide minutes as a small-ball five.

Whatever the role, the man dubbed “Dancing Bear” will be ready.

“I’d be comfortable to be wherever they want me to be at,” he said. “At this time in my career, I’m not here to pick and choose. I wanted a second shot and it’s here, so I’ll just try to fill in and [do the best I can].”

Since leaving the NBA, Yabusele has gotten vast experience overseas.

After brief stints in China and his native France, he signed with Real Madrid in 2021. The team had great success over his three-year tenure, including a Euro League title in 2023. He also flourished playing with his national team, helping Les Bleus capture a silver medal at the 2020 Olympics, EuroBasket in 2022, and of course in 2024 in Paris.

His play during France’s run this summer was undoubtedly a big factor in the Sixers’ choosing to sign him, but Yabusele has shown plenty of growth in his game overall. Known for his versatility, shooting was the one skill where there was a big question mark. While it’s a shorter line, Yabusele saw marked improvement as a shooter, hitting 44.5% of his threes for Real Madrid this past season.

A consistent jumper would make him an even more seamless fit to play alongside the star trio of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and George. His willingness to do the dirty work won’t hurt either.

“Just me and the skill I can bring — shooting threes, also to drive, passing skills a little bit — but just read the game in general,” he said. “Just bringing that energy, that intensity, and just fight every possession.”

Financially, this is somewhat of a gamble for Yabusele.

He needed to be bought out of his contract with Real Madrid, with the Sixers only being allowed to contribute a small portion to that. This is a bet on himself, hoping his return to the league extends far beyond his one-year pact with the Sixers.

“Of course there was a buyout and I had one more year with Madrid,” he said, “but I feel like I just wanted to better myself and let’s try it. I feel like if you don’t come back in the NBA and you play your whole career and you’ll [say] ‘if .. if this …’ I took that chance and I decided to come here and try my second shot.”

A lot has changed for Yabusele. He’s a different player and person since his last NBA appearance.

One thing that hasn’t changed: he wants to prove he belongs.