NEWPORT, R.I. — Guerschon Yabusele was working out in the weight room at the Celtics practice facility last spring, rehabbing from May surgery on both his ankles. Fellow Frenchman Mathias Lessort walked by on his way to a pre-draft session with the C’s and looked at his buddy with disdain.

“They call you the Dancing Bear,” he said. “You cannot even dance.”

“It’s even funnier when you think of him saying it with that French accent,” said Celtics assistant coach Micah Shrewsberry, who laughed again when reminded of the moment.

More important to the Celtics is that Yabusele, the 16th overall pick in the 2016 draft, can play. And there seems to be no question about that — just welcome amazement from his teammates.

At the mention of his name, Al Horford’s eyes grew wide and a smile washed over his face.

“That kid can play,” Horford said of the 6-foot-8, 260-pound brute who was stashed and played last year in China before a late-season and playoff cameo with the Maine Red Claws. “You look at his body and the way that he can move … he can really shoot the ball. He has a really good feel for the game. He just has a really good feel, and he plays hard, so I just think that people are going to love him.”

What people have known of Yabusele thus far was mainly attached to the Dancing Bear nickname given him by Shrewsberry during summer league in 2016. But he won’t be some end-of-bench favorite for whom fans chant at the end of games. Yabusele figures to be in the rotation.

After just three days of training camp, Horford didn’t want to go too far, but he said, “I think he’s going to have an opportunity.”

Then he added, “I had no idea. I had no idea that he could play like this. This has been a really good surprise.”

Surprise? Kyrie Irving had never even heard of the guy.

“I hadn’t until we got here,” he said. “Then I found out he had surgery on both ankles and he’s just getting back to playing. He’s a big body, man. He’s in the paint going against Baynesie (Aron Baynes) every single day. That’s a tough cover.

“He’s one of those young guys that we need to implement into our offensive and defensive principles so he can be good for us. I’m learning all these guys’ different strengths, figuring out where they like the ball and all that stuff.”

Brad Stevens is keeping things in dry perspective, based on Yabusele’s physical situation and the fact that it is, indeed, too damn early to nominate the Dancing Bear for the Hall of Fame.

“I thought Guerschon, especially considering he hasn’t done anything live really until this week coming off of that double ankle (surgery) in the early part of the summer, he had been working his way up to live play, and he’s done a good job,” said the coach as the Celts wrapped up their time at Salve Regina and prepared to bus home. “He’s had a good start. You know, he’s going to learn the spacing of things, he’s going to learn kind of what we’re trying to do on both ends, but he’s very smart and he provides another big body that can shoot the ball and pass the ball.”

And it’s clear Yabusele has put the last year to good use.

“It’s been so long since he was here, I would say that he just looks like a lot of these guys when they go from 20 to 22 (Yabusele turns 22 in December), a lot more polished,” Stevens said. “He looks a lot better than he did at the start of summer league practices (15) months ago.”

As Yabusele put it, “I have more experience and I’m more mature and understand the game more. My body’s definitely different. I’ve got more weight and more strength, and I’m more lean.

“I think I’m ready to play and do what the coach wants me to do and help the team as much as I can.”

That could mean banging inside as Horford works the high post or stepping outside to the arc — he was draining 3’s after practice yesterday — or providing physical defense to wear down an opposing scorer. Whatever the case, Yabusele seems excited for the chance.

“It’s been great,” he said. “I’m really happy to be around the team, to be with the guys. I was watching them last year, and it’s a good feeling to be part of the team and come out to play and practice with them and just be around to learn and get better.”

In turn, his mates are enjoying learning about Yabusele and what he can do for them.

“When you come and nobody knows your name and nobody knows who you are, they don’t know what to expect,” said the Bear. “I just want to help my teammates and play with a lot of energy and do my best to win the games.”

And if that includes dancing?

“Oh, Mathias,” said Yabusele. “That’s my friend.

“But yes, I think I can dance,” he added. “Definitely.”