Yabusele shares honest thoughts about his lack of playing time despite team success.
The New York Knicks have been one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference this season, sitting at 18-7 and looking like real contenders.
Despite all the winning, not everyone on the roster is having the time of their life, and Guerschon Yabusele is one of those players dealing with a tough situation.
After signing a two-year, $11.7 million contract with New York in the offseason, Yabusele came into this year with high hopes following a breakout campaign with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Last season he put up 11.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting 38% from three, but things have not gone according to plan in his new home.
Yabusele Speaks Out on Limited Minutes
In a recent interview with French media outlets AFP and Basket USA, Yabusele did not hide how he feels about his current role with the team.
"To be honest, it's frustrating. I'm a competitor," Yabusele said. "Very difficult situation. But that's life. Can't complain. We're winning. Would be selfish to only think of myself. Good group. I don't have many answers. I try to stay in shape, be ready."
The 29-year-old forward has only averaged 9.8 minutes per game this season, which is a huge drop from the 27.1 minutes he saw with the Sixers last year.
His numbers have taken a hit too, as he is averaging just 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds while shooting 29.5 percent from deep in 24 appearances.
Why Yabusele Hasn't Found His Rhythm
There are a few reasons why Yabusele has not gotten the playing time he expected when he joined the Knicks.
First, the return of OG Anunoby from a hamstring injury has made the rotation even tighter, and head coach Mike Brown has leaned heavily on his starters like Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Josh Hart.
Brown has also admitted that the stop-and-start nature of Yabusele's minutes has made it hard for him to get into any kind of flow.
With the Knicks already so deep and playing so well, there just have not been many opportunities for the French forward to show what he can do.
Staying Ready Despite the Frustration
Even though the situation is not ideal, Yabusele is doing his best to stay positive and keep himself prepared for whenever his number is called.
"I try to be ready whenever my name is called," Yabusele said. "I try to control my impact on the court, no matter how much time I get."
The Knicks are winning games and have their sights set on a deep playoff run after falling to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals last year.
For Yabusele, being part of a winning team is something he values, even if his personal stats are not where he wants them to be.
With December 15th now here and players who signed in free agency becoming trade eligible, things could change for the veteran forward one way or another in the coming weeks.