Philadelphia 76ers: 3 reasons Matisse Thybulle was a good pick
By Derek Hryn
3. 3-and-D Tangibles
Matisse Thybulle is arguably the best defender in this draft pool. He was the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year this past season, winning the award over Zion Williamson, Brandon Clarke and De’Andre Hunter. While his 3-point shooting hit a bit of a snag through four years, he still has all the makings of a 3-and-D player as he enters the NBA.
Though Washington was a more zone-oriented team last season, Thybulle’s defensive numbers were nothing short of sensational. He recorded 3.5 steals and 2.3 blocks per game. His 6’5″ length, coupled with impressive athleticism, leaves little doubt on how well he’ll translate to the pro level.
The Sixers’ assortment of wings and guards will certainly be intriguing. Assuming Jimmy Butler returns, they will have a solid backcourt of multifaceted talent. Butler, Ben Simmons, Zhaire Smith, Shake Milton and now Thybulle all move remarkably well around ball screens and switches, and each will limit the defensive lapses that has proceeded to bog down this group in the postseason.
It could take time for this rotation to figure things out, but then again, that’s expected from any team in the league during a phase of acquiring new assets. For the moment, it should be a scary group to try and score points against.
Despite shooting an underwhelming 30.5 percent from deep last season, Thybulle has a nice-looking stroke for being more of a defensive-minded player. He should be a viable target for Simmons or another ball-handler on the perimeter.
It’ll be interesting to see just how his jumper fares during NBA Summer League in the coming weeks.