Matisse Thybulle wants to stay in Philadelphia, retire with the 76ers
When Matisse Thybulle entered the league with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2019, he was expected to be one of the core members of the team for years to come.
In just his second year in the league, Thybulle was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team after averaging 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. Thybulle then earned All-Defensive Team honors for a second time in the 2021-22 NBA season.
As we all know, as great as Thybulle has been defensively, the main issue that has lingered over the past three seasons is on the offensive side of the basketball court.
After a lackluster playoff performance last season, which was highlighted by the fact that Thybulle missed three games in Toronto due to his vaccination status, the tides definitely turned on the Matisse Thybulle love in the city of Philadelphia.
Thybulle failed to make much of an impact in the six-game series loss against the Miami Heat, recording just 2.8 points per game. In return, the Philadelphia 76ers had the 25-year-old Thybulle linked in almost every single trade rumor over the summer.
Of course, that didn’t happen. Even with the uncertainty surrounding the future ‘Tisse recently spoke with Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer about his future in Philadelphia.
“At this point, I would always want to stay in Philly,” he said to the Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Keith Pompey. “And if it’s up to me, that’s always going to be my choice.
“But considering that I’ve realized the reality of how far out of my control it is, if I do get traded or something does end up happening, I can look at myself in the mirror at the end of the day.”
Whether or not Matisse Thybulle will show any improvement offensively is still in question, but throughout the summer several videos, popped up on social media showing ‘Tisse working in the gym, working on dribbling, shooting, and driving to the basket.
Doc Rivers and Daryl Morey both took notice and acknowledged the hard work from Matisse Thybulle over the Summer during the 76ers media day earlier this week.
Daryl Morey on Matisse Thybulle
“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. We are excited about his future.”
Doc Rivers on Matisse Thybulle
“I couldn’t be happier in the way Tisse has attacked the summer. He’s been one of our hardest workers. He’s worked on both of the things we needed him to work on on the floor, and on his body strength.”
Only time will tell if Matisse Thybulle make the jump this season offensively. If he does take that next step, it would obviously make him a more complete player, and likely get him one step closer to his wish in retiring as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers.
