CHARLOTTE — Guerschon Yabusele has seen the discourse about his weight. He chose to ignore it.
But it’s also confusing.
“About this, because I heard it, and I could if I wanted to talk about it, but I just decided not to,” Yabusele told The Post. “People say whatever they want to say. If you guys check with my weight from last year, it’s the same. So last year it wasn’t a problem, why is it a problem this year? And I’m actually less than last year.”
Yabusele is listed by the Knicks at 283 pounds, which would place him among NBA’s heaviest using the very unscientific metrics of listed weights. Part of the issue is various websites had him much lighter last season at 265 pounds, which apparently was a mistake. According to the media guide distributed last season by the 76ers — where Yabusele played and thrived — he was 279 pounds.
Either way, Yabusele said he’s unbothered by the weight discussion and is in good condition as he tries to navigate his shooting struggles and sporadic playing time on a new team.
“I’m not focusing on none of that. I’m just doing my thing,” Yabusele said. “I feel good and in great shape. So it is what it is.”
It’s safe to assume Yabusele isn’t naturally thin. His body type is more middle linebacker than wide receiver. The strength and power was viewed as a bonus toward defending centers despite being undersized for the position.
Coming off Yabusele’s breakthrough last season with the Sixers, the Knicks signed him for two years, $11 million — with the second season being a player option. He represented the big summer acquisition, slated as the top frontcourt reserve as the Knicks plotted toward title contention.
But as new coach Mike Brown pushed for a fast-paced system, Yabusele is struggling in a reduced role. He was averaging just 2.7 points in 10.5 minutes heading into Wednesday’s game against the Hornets, shooting a paltry 34.9 percent overall and 27.6 percent on treys.
Before OG Anunoby’s hamstring injury, Yabusele had consecutive games of playing six minutes or fewer.
Against the Nets in Brooklyn on Monday, for instance, he logged just 12 minutes despite the absences of Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson. His shifts on the court lasted between roughly 2-4 minutes, and he never played more than 17 total before Wednesday.
Brown draws up a predetermined minutes sheet before each game and tries to stick to it.
It’s a difficult reality after Yabusele averaged over 27 minutes last season and then captained the French national team in the European championships over the summer. It’s also not what the Knicks envisioned after using almost their entire midlevel exception to sign Yabusele.
“Of course it is [hard]. I can’t lie about it,” Yabusele said. “Today is a different situation. Of course I was playing more minutes last year, too. I’m just trying to fit in my new role and be the best I can.”
Of course, Yabusele isn’t doing himself any favors with his misfiring jumper. He went from shooting 38 percent on 3.9 3-point attempts per game last season, to 27.6 percent on 1.9 attempts with the Knicks before Wednesday.
At least he can point to a recent upswing with a 4-for-11 conversion rate in the six games heading into Charlotte.
“Shots are always up and down, especially in the season,” Yabusele said. “If you look back at last season, some games I was making more than other games. Sometimes it’s not going in and sometimes it goes in. So I’m going to keep working every day, coming to the gym and make sure to get those shots. And when I get in the game, try to be prepared.”
Regardless, conditioning isn’t the problem, Yabusele said.
“I feel good out there on the court. I feel like I’m in great shape right now,” he said. “So just try to stay the same and work on my body and be as prepared as I can when I’m on the court.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
