Philadelphia 76ers: Matisse Thybulle’s shooting in Vegas is positive indicator
Matisse Thybulle’s strong Summer League run for the Philadelphia 76ers was highlighted by unexpected shooting success.
The Philadelphia 76ers were an underwhelming 2-3 in Las Vegas, lacking the offensive firepower to compete with elite Summer League teams. There were still positives, however — mainly in the form of Matisse Thybulle, Zhaire Smith and Marial Shayok.
Thybulle entered Summer League with questions about his NBA role — how his defense might fit into man-to-man coverage and how his offense would look. It’s fair to suggest Thybulle answered those questions in resounding fashion.
On defense, Thybulle was spectacular. He’s not elite on-ball, but has the length and athleticism to defend his man effectively. Off the ball, Thybulle showed his impressive instincts and his ability to cover ground. He makes swift recoveries, reads passing lanes at a high level and is elite when it comes to forcing deflections and creating turnovers.
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It was Thybulle’s shooting, however, that left the biggest impression in Vegas. He shot 39.6 percent on 5.6 three-point attempts per game — not only efficient, but high volume. When projecting Thybulle’s utility in the NBA, his ability to hit spot-up jumpers is crucial.
Thybulle comfortably hitting NBA triples, whether it’s standstill, a one-dribble pull-up, or off-movement, will cement his status as a viable role player early in his career. The Sixers already have the defensive pieces to maximize Thybulle’s unique freelancing prowess. If his offense hits, there’s major upside early in his career.
In four years at Washington, Thybulle was a career 35.6 percent three-point shooter on 4.0 attempts per contest — respectable, but not quite elite. His drop to 30.5 percent as a senior left some analysts worried. The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie called Thybulle’s shot a “hard ball.”
Those concerns are not dissolved. It’s just five Summer League games and his college sample size should, rightfully, hold more weight. But Thybulle hitting near-40 percent on a healthy number of NBA-length attempts is a positive indicator moving forward. It’s clear Thybulle has confidence in his shot and is working to make it a reliable facet of his game.
Due to the nature of his skill set, Robert Covington has been a natural comparison for some fans. It’s a legitimate one — Covington did his damage off-ball, slithering into passing lanes, getting deflections and punishing lazy execution. Thybulle also has some of the same offensive limitations — his loose handle and struggles attacking closeouts being the most striking.
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Those very limitations will keep star-level production out of reach for Thybulle. But he plays his role exceedingly well and, everything taken into account, should be a functional NBA shooter. For a Sixers team loaded with size and talent, Thybulle filling his role is more than enough.