This is the worst-case scenario for the Philadelphia 76ers. In the final week of the regular season, there has been speculation around Matisse Thybulle potentially being unvaccinated. Missing a road game against the Toronto Raptors all but confirmed that the defensive ace has not taken the jab.
Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal in the NBA: there aren't any rules restricting unvaccinated players to play, after all. However, the problem lies in the playoffs. One of the potential foes of the Sixers in the postseason are the Raptors… who play in Canada. Canada has a strict policy that requires foreign entrants to the country to be vaccinated to be granted entry. This spells trouble for Philly, who could miss Thybulle for at least three games.
After the events of the final day of the regular season, it's confirmed that the Sixers and the Raptors will be facing each other in the first round of the playoffs. With that, Thybulle has also been ruled out of Game 3 and 4 of that series. Speaking to Ky Carlin, Thybulle opened up on his reasoning as to why he isn't vaccinated. (via Sixers Wire)
“I’m not fully vaccinated. Yeah, this is a decision I made a long time ago… I was raised in a holistic household where anti-vax was not a term that was used. It’s a weird term that’s been thrown around to just label people, but we grew up with Chinese medicine and naturopathic doctors… coming into this situation, I felt like I had a solid foundation of medical resources that could serve me beyond what this vaccine could do for me.”
Thybulle would also reveal that he had taken the first shot of the Pfizer vaccine initially. However, the Sixers star decided to not continue with the vaccination process, saying that:
“My reasoning for getting it, not getting it, wasn’t really the downsides. I just didn’t feel like it would really benefit me. I didn’t see any benefits outweighing what I could seek from alternative medicine.”
This… isn't a great sign for the Sixers. Thybulle has been arguably one of the best defensive wings in the NBA right now. His long arms and his preternatural defensive instincts make him a nightmare for any opposing player. He would've been extremely useful to the team in defending Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, and Scottie Barnes.
Some fans might be upset that Thybulle is being restricted due to his unvaccinated status. Some have already lambasted the Raptors for playing in Canada, as they feel that it's an unfair advantage for them. However… the truth is that the US also has the same restrictions for those entering the country. The Raptors all have to be fully vaccinated to play their away games against the Sixers… which they all are. Hence why there's no fuss from their side.
Thybulle, at the very least, has accepted the consequences of his actions. The Sixers star has accepted the consequences of his actions, saying that:
“One of the things that my dad taught me growing up was you’re free to do whatever you want as long as you’re willing to accept the consequences of it. Like I said, I considered deeply, all of the different avenues and, of course, I’ve accepted that this could hurt money, contracts, reputation, but I felt like this is the right thing that I need to do for myself.”
At the very least, the Sixers will have Thybulle available for a potential Game 7 showdown versus the Raptors should the series go the distance. Still, it's a major blow to a team that has been light on defensive pieces on the perimeter.
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