Sixers‘ fan-favorite Matisse Thybulle has created a name for himself that is almost always synonymous with the word defense.
Sticky fingered and consistently persistent, NBA players know that if Matisse Thybulle is guarding them, they will not have an easy night, to say the least. Thybulle has an unmatched defensive prowess in the league, and with his recent run with the Australian Boomers this summer, we can look to see Thybulle add to his offensive game this upcoming season.
Last Season
Thybulle had a stellar defensive year during the 2020-2021 season and earned himself a spot on the “All-Defensive Second Team,” being the only non-starter to appear on either team. He ended the year with an impressive 1.6 SPG and 1.1 BPG.
Matisse Thybulle was arguably the third-best defender on the Sixers’ team last season but that is much more an accomplishment for the Sixers than a slight toward Thybulle. The young Australian played so well defensively, he proved that he would be the best defender on many NBA teams, a major accomplishment for someone under the age of 25.
Thybulle, however, struggled offensively, only scoring around 3.9 PPG. His three-point shooting remained inconsistent the entirety of the season, shooting 30% from beyond the arc. When his hand was hot, it was red hot, and when his hand was cold, it was ice cold. Going into the offseason, that was one area of Thybulle’s game the Sixers wanted to see an improvement in, and Thybulle has delivered so far.
Looking Ahead
After Thybulle’s impressive performance at the Tokyo Olympics this summer, Doc Rivers will most likely look to award his young defensive star with more minutes. There is debate on whether or not Thybulle should replace Danny Green on the starting rotation, but he most likely will start the season off as the Sixers’ sixth man with the potential to start later on the season if his performance is on the up.
This summer at the Olympics, Thybulle looked to have really polished his inconsistent three-point shot, shooting an incredible 62.3%. Thybulle will look to make himself a more well-rounded 3-and-D player and should be a shoo-in for a spot on an “All-Defensive Team” and a contender for Sixth Man of The Year as well.
Grade And Future Outlook: B+
If grades were going off defensive game alone, Thybulle would have earned himself an A+. Factoring in his inconsistent offensive game leaves Thybulle with a solid B+. Sixers fans can expect a more refined Matisse Thybulle this season with a new set of offensive skills.
Matisse Thybulle has great potential heading into his third NBA season. He has proven, through his hard work, he can have a great offensive game, which is exactly what the Sixers need from him to win a championship this year. If Thybulle keeps up his defensive prowess and adds a great three-point shot to his resume, the Sixers will have an unstoppable weapon at their fingertips.
