For the 76ers, everything centers around Joel Embiid and James Harden. Together, those two will make or break the upcoming season for their team.
But they will not be alone in their pursuit of a title. Young stud Matisse Thybulle will also join them on the court this season and his growth over the summer is earning some significant recognition.
In a piece for ‘The Philadelphia Inquirer,’ team President/GM Daryl Morey showered the youngster in praise and reaffirmed his belief in his potential.
Thybulle spent time the summer working out with Portland Trail Blazers perennial All-Star Damian Lillard and renowned shooting coach Phil Beckner in Phoenix among other cities. Improving his outside shooting was one of his focuses. He also went to Los Angeles to work on his ball handling and finishing around the basket with Chicago Bulls All-Star DeMar DeRozan under the direction of ball-handling wiz Johnny Stephene, aka Dribble2Much and HandleLife Johnny.
Thybulle’s goal was to have the Sixers see for themselves the work he put in and the offensive improvements that he’s made. And it worked.
“Matisse has been the most consistent player in Camden this summer, putting in countless hours on his game that will for sure pay dividends going forward,” said Daryl Morey, the Sixers president of basketball operations. “We are excited about his future.”
Thybulle, 25, averaged 5.7 points 2.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game as one of Philly’s best wing defenders last season. And while he often goes underappreciated behind Embid, Harden, Harris, and Maxey, his role on the team has exploded to the point that he’s a crucial part of their future.
Matisse Thybulle’s Future In Philly Has Fallen Under Doubt
Still, Thybulle is not someone the Sixers consider untouchable at the moment, and his future with the team is not guaranteed. According to a report by Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report earlier this month, Morey and his team actively explored the trade market for Matisse.
“The Sixers actively explored the trade market for Matisse Thybulle this summer—quite the important context for the third-year forward’s extension discussions. While Thybulle guards at an All-Defense caliber, his lack of consistent shooting has provided problems for Philadelphia’s lineups around Joel Embiid. Plus, the Sixers added P.J. Tucker and Danuel House Jr. to further their two-way depth on the wing and in the frontcourt… There hasn’t been traction on extension conversations with Thybulle.”
Clearly, the 76ers aren’t certain about their feelings for Thybulle. While he has been great so far, there has no evidence that he can sustain a high level of play for an extended period of time.
For now, until he proves his worth once and for all, the Sixers will continue to monitor his progress and note all the ways he is molding and improving his game.
