A perfect start to the new year for Real Madrid, complete with a takeover of the top spot in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings, is finishing with another well-deserved accolade.
Euroleague Basketball’s choice for MVP of January is a first-time winner of the award, Real power forward Guerschon Yabusele. The newest member among a phalanx of French stars in the Spanish capital was essential to his team’s march on first place with a 4-0 record in January.
Yabusele compiled the highest total performance index rating, 74, of all players on undefeated teams during the month. He led Real in both scoring and PIR in two of those games. And he finished the month starring in the double-overtime thriller that capped the team’s January 2022 takeoff to the top!
Guerschon Yabusele had already made himself a full-time starter and a fan favorite in Madrid before his and the team’s tear through January. At 18-3, Real now has matched the best record in the EuroLeague through 21 games since the round-robin format went into effect in 2016.
Yabusele’s month-long averages of 15.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 18.5 PIR while shooting 64.0% from inside the arc and 47.1% beyond were the most consequential contribution to his team’s surge.
And in the city with the most continental titles ever, Real’s fans will be sure to applaud their new star’s solid work when Yabusele receives his MVP for January trophy at an upcoming game.
