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USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Boston big man Guerschon Yabusele on what's changed since Celtics stint
A lot of things have changed for former Boston Celtics big man Guerschon Yabusele since he returned to the NBA to after going back to Europe to play. The most obvious, of course, is that he is back in the league that Boston drafted him into with the No. 16 pick of the 2016 draft, having signed with the Philadelphia 76ers for a reserve role that ended up turning out to be much bigger than expected thanks to a litany of injuries besetting the Sixers last season. And we can add to that in that this time around, Yabusele has a good shot at landing with an NBA team for the 2025-26 season as well on the strengths of his play with Philadelphia. The 6-foot-8 Frenchman put up a very solid 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game with the 76ers last season, shooting 38.0% from beyond the arc as well. That's a big jump from the pedestrian 2.3 points and 1.4 assists per game he logged with Boston in his first, two-season NBA stint -- and the growth as a player has him well-positioned to continue playing in the league. What's changed for Yabu as he hits free agency? The Dreux, France native recently sat down with HoopsHype's Cyro Asseo de Choch for a wide-ranging interview that touched on that stint with the Celtics -- and another thing that has changed for the Dancing Bear. "It was a completely different mentality ... when I was in Boston, because ... I was drafted first round, 16th pick, so my standards and what I was hoping was completely different from right now," he explained. "I didn't have that much experience, too." Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle "I was really just young, and I wanted just to play," recalled Yabusele. "And when I didn't have that chance to play, my reaction to it was more and more frustration, because I couldn't understand why I was not playing." What went wrong with the Celtics? The problem, according to the former Boston big was, surprisingly, "nothing -- It just happened," per Yabu. "Boston is an organization and a team that (had) a lot of players. That was my situation. I had Marcus Morris, Aron Baynes, and Al Horford in front of me. Those guys have been around in the league for so long, and they're experienced players." "I couldn't take it the wrong way, saying, 'Oh, I should have been in front of him.,'" he added. "No, that's not true. I was really just hoping that the situation could be a bit different, maybe that they can use the bench a little more, playing me and a couple of the guys that were there." What did he learn from that experience? "I played through it," said Yabusele. "And even though I was not with Boston anymore, I learned so much from that season ... it helped me for the second part of my career after that. It really pushed me." "I had that mentality of loving that basketball, because I know I love basketball," recalled the Celtics center alum. "But if you're in a situation that you don't play, it's hard. I missed it. And I was like, 'You know what? I want to play now'. I want to be somewhere where I always play, so I always try to pick the right situation now for me." In the end, that mentality worked out for Yabusele, with a return playing real minutes for the Sixers checking off that particular -- but critical -- box for the former 16th pick. And after the season he had with Philly, he might just have a shot to do it again, but with a contender.
Arab News
31-01-2025
- Arab News
Exploring the history of ancient Dumat Al-Jandal
RIYADH: In the heart of Al-Jouf, around 50km away from Sakaka, is the city of Dumat Al-Jandal — or, to give it its ancient name, 'Adumato.' Civilizations and kingdoms have thrived here for thousands of years, leaving behind traces of their existence carved onto walls and corners. 'It was a rainy period with rivers and forests, then it turned into a savanna, then into a period of little rain, then the habitation moved to other nearby sites such as the site of Al-Jamal and the site of Al-Rajajil,' explained Hussain Al-Khalifah, a Saudi archaeologist with over 30 years' experience. 'After that, the Arabian Peninsula became a desert as we see it today. In ancient times, humans moved to sites with fertile soil and water resources. Therefore, Dumat Al-Jandal is one of the oldest cities inhabited around the second millennium BCE,' he said. Among the kingdoms and empires that tried to control Dumat Al-Jandal were the Assyrians, who made numerous attempts to control and capture the lands. When the city was first established, people needed stability and safety. But that could not be achieved without peace, especially with their neighbors such as the kingdoms of Tayma, Iraq and the Levant. A trade road was created to exchange goods and link regions, and Dumat Al-Jandal was one of the significant points on this for people coming from the south of the Arabian Peninsula. 'It was an important point at the beginning of the land trade,' Al-Khalifah told Arab News. 'Dumat Al-Jandal was strong and rich because of trade. The people were protectors of the trade that passed by the city and, therefore, they took some of the goods in exchange for protecting merchants.' Among the kingdoms and empires that tried to control Dumat Al-Jandal were the Assyrians, who made numerous attempts to control and capture the lands. However, another kingdom was rising at the same time — the Arabian Qedarites, which not only prevented the Assyrians from taking Dumat Al-Jandal but also expanded their territory until they reached Palestine, Al-Khalifah said. The Assyrians captured Adumato eventually, though the exact date is unknown. They were known to document information on clay tablets, some of which can still be seen today at Dumat Al-Jandal. They are among the primary sources that mention Arabs, providing a description of the people of the city and one of their queens, Talkhunu, among others. They also mention a rebel named Yabu who revolted against Ayatea, the king of Dumat Al-Jandal who was loyal to the Assyrians. The Assyrian king, an advocate of justice who despised aggression and rebellion, sent warriors to aid Ayatea who caught Yabu and put him in chains. The tablets also mention a popular souk which took place each year on the first day of spring.
