Philadelphia 76ers youngster Matisse Thybulle is one of the most unique players across the NBA. The Sixers wing makes eye-popping defensive plays that few guys can replicate. Despite standing just 6'5″, Thybulle has an impressive 6'11” wingspan he uses to wreak havoc on opposing players. His defensive instincts and long arms allow him to interrupt passing lines and bother opposing ballhandlers on an elite level.
Thybulle has made an All-NBA Defensive Team in two of his three years in the league despite only playing rotational minutes with the Sixers. In the 196 games he has played in the NBA, he has racked up a ridiculous 313 steals and 189 blocks. He is one of only eight players to tally these numbers since the stats were first recorded. It took the Washington product just 4,270 career minutes to accomplish this feat, while no other player on the list played fewer the 5,000 minutes to reach these.
While there is a ton to like defensively, Thybulle has some massive holes on the offensive side of his game. These red flags have potentially caused the Sixers to get cold feet about his long-term future with the team. The former first-round pick is heading into the final year of his contract this season. It appears they have been more active searching the trade market for a new landing spot rather than working on an extension.
Matisse Thybulle is such a unique talent with game-changing defensive abilities, but the Sixers would be wise to avoid a long-term contract extension with the 25-year-old.
Devin Booker had 1 point on 0/5 from the field when defended by Matisse Thybulle last night (18 possessions)
Booker was 0-3 in the 2Q & the Sixers were up 64-60 at the half… then Matisse played 3 minutes in the 2nd half compared to Booker's 18, again what are we doing here? pic.twitter.com/ONIz0K8NKH
— MRCROCKPOT TPL (@mrcrockpot) March 28, 2022
*Watch NBA Games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)*
Why Sixers must not give contract extension to Matisse Thybulle
2) Playoff Struggles
The Sixers are firmly in win-now mode. Joel Embiid is playing at one of the highest levels of any player in the NBA. James Harden recently took a pay cut in order to allow the Sixers to sign the playoff-caliber veterans the team was clearly missing. Adding rotational pieces who can contribute on both sides of the ball was clearly a point of emphasis for the team. Philadelphia's bench rotation has been one of the biggest weaknesses on the roster in recent years. Unfortunately, Matisse Thybulle has played a major role in this being the case.
Every player's weaknesses are greater exposed in the playoffs, and Thybulle is no different. It has been extremely clear in the past two postseasons that opposing teams have zero respect for Thybulle's offense. The Washington wing seems to lack interest on the offensive end, with his best usage on this side of the floor oftentimes just sitting in the dunker spot.
His lack of postseason impact was especially notable in last year's playoffs. Thybulle played a valuable role on the Sixers' starting lineup throughout the regular season and started in 50 of the 66 games he played in. He clocked 25.5 minutes per game and produced 5.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. In the playoffs, he saw his minutes shrink significantly.
With opposing defenses clearly having no interest in guarding him and an inability to take advantage, the Sixers were forced to go a different direction. The third-year player saw his playing time drop to just 15.2 minutes per game, the lowest of his career in any previous regular season or playoffs. While his vaccination status held him out of the postseason games in Toronto, Thybulle was just as absent in the games in the US.
The Sixers can't play Matisse Thybulle in this series. His defense hasn't come close to offsetting his offensive limitations.
They're playing 4-on-5 offensively with him out there. pic.twitter.com/sff4sY1NjD
— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) May 5, 2022
1) Thybulle's Regression
“Matisse Thybulle would be an elite 3-and-D player if he was just an average three-point shooter.”
While this sentence is true, it has been thrown around since his college days. In fact, there is far less reason for optimism now than when he first came into the league. Now having played four years in college and three seasons in the NBA, there should be more signs of growth than the 25-year-old has shown. As a rookie, Thubulle shot 35.7% on 3-point attempts while putting up 2.4 per game. Flash forward to this season and he shot 31.3% on 3-pointers and attempted 2.2 per game. Despite playing 5.7 more minutes per game, his 3-point rate and efficiency have decreased.
While 3-point shooting is not the only way to provide offense, it is especially important in an offense built around Joel Embiid. Having the proper floor spacers to make teams think twice about doubling or tripling the MVP runner-up is crucial. Matisse Thybulle clearly does not garner this respect, and the Sixers are worse because of it.
The shooting numbers make it clear but the eye test certainly matches with Thybulle. It isn't the small dip in attempts that is so concerning, but rather the clear hesitancy he has when given a chance to shoot. It would be one thing if he just had a cold spell that diluted his numbers. But the continued tentative offensive game makes him a major weak point for the Sixers.
There still absolutely is a place in the NBA for Matisse Thybulle. His elite defensive abilities will always ensure this is the case. However, it is clear he is not the best complementary piece to the Sixers' core. It is not the end of the world if Philly enters next season with the Washington product, but handing out a long-term extension to him would be a massive mistake. It is never wise to let a player walk for free, so the Sixers would be best off trading him this offseason.
However, the Sixers certainly should avoid attempting to make him a long-term part of the franchise moving forward.
Follow Us
Subscribe