Guerschon Yabusele is set for a surprising reunion with Zeljko Obradovic at Panathinaikos, three years after their unforgettable EuroLeague playoff clash that ended with one of the most controversial brawls in recent competition history.
According to NBA insider Michael Scotto, Yabusele has agreed to a three-year contract with Panathinaikos and will become one of the highest-paid players in all of European basketball.
The infamous Partizan-Real Madrid clash that changed everything
However, let’s go back to 2023 and the period when the current captain of the French national team was playing for Real Madrid.
It was the EuroLeague playoffs, and Real Madrid faced Partizan in the quarterfinals, with Zeljko Obradovic leading the Serbian club from the bench. Real Madrid had home-court advantage in the series, but Partizan immediately made a statement in Game 1, as Kevin Punter hit a game-winning three-pointer in Madrid over Yabusele to steal the victory.
The second game of that quarterfinal series is still being talked about today. Partizan had complete control of the game, holding a 15-point lead with less than two minutes remaining, and it appeared certain they would take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. However, what happened in the final moments completely changed the direction of the matchup.
Sergio Llull committed an unsportsmanlike foul near half court, which led to a reaction from Kevin Punter. A heated confrontation between the players quickly escalated, turning into a massive brawl on the court.
The player at the center of the incident was Guerschon Yabusele, who brought Dante Exum to the floor with a wrestling-style move during the altercation.
Yabusele’s suspension and Real Madrid’s EuroLeague title run
That brawl completely changed the course of the entire series. Suspensions were handed out on both sides, with Mathias Lessort and Kevin Punter being punished for Partizan, while Gabriel Deck and Guerschon Yabusele received suspensions for Real Madrid. Yabusele was suspended for five games, which effectively ended his EuroLeague season.
However, his absence did not significantly disrupt Real Madrid. The Spanish side managed to win the next two games in Belgrade, first tying the series at 2-2, and then completing a remarkable comeback on their home court to secure a place at the Final Four.
Not only did Real Madrid reach the Final Four, but they also went on to win the EuroLeague title. They defeated Barcelona in the semifinals before overcoming Olympiacos in the championship game to lift the trophy.
From NBA return to Panathinaikos project
Since Guerschon Yabusele remained with Real Madrid for the following season, he had another opportunity to face Partizan, and he made an impact in his team’s road victory against Zeljko Obradovic’s squad, scoring 10 points.
After that, he made the move to the NBA, where he played for the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2024/25 season, before later joining the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls. In his most recent season, Yabusele appeared in 67 games, averaging 5.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest.
Obradovic’s new Panathinaikos era takes shape
Panathinaikos has been extremely active on the transfer market this summer. The first major change came on the coaching staff, as Ergin Ataman, who led Panathinaikos over the previous three seasons, was replaced by Zeljko Obradovic. The Serbian coaching legend is returning to the club after 14 years, taking over the team once again.
Alongside Obradovic, several other familiar faces have also returned to Panathinaikos. Mike Batiste has joined the coaching staff as an assistant, while Dimitris Diamantidis will take on a managerial role within the organization.
When it comes to the roster, several players have already officially left the club, including Kenneth Faried, Marius Grigonis, T.J. Shorts, and Alexandros Samodurov. Although Panathinaikos has announced plans for multiple major additions, the only officially confirmed signing so far is Moustapha Fall, who arrives from their biggest rivals, Olympiacos.
President Dimitris Giannakopoulos has announced that Panathinaikos will complete four major signings in the coming days. While the club has not yet officially confirmed the moves, two of those players are already known to be Isaac Bonga and Brancou Badio, who have both arrived in Athens, while the third is expected to be Guerschon Yabusele.
It remains to be seen who will become the next addition to this ambitious Panathinaikos project, while all of the club’s moves can be followed on the EuroLeague Transactions tracker.
