Ranking every player on the Sixers’ 2021-22 roster

Ranking every player on the Sixers roster — 6. Matisse Thybulle

From Jonathan Geib: 

Matisse Thybulle ranks sixth in our preseason Ranking the Sixers project, behind only last season’s five regular starters. Thybulle has shown impressive growth in just his first two seasons in the NBA, and I expect that to continue this year. Frankly, the only reason Thybulle has not received more opportunity as a starter is because he and Ben Simmons are both hesitant shooters, unquestionably Ben more so. Still, the fact remains: having two reluctant shooters on the floor at the same time is not ideal.

What Thybulle can do damn well though is play defense. He made second team All-Defense in his sophomore season while coming off the bench and playing fewer minutes than every other player selected to the All-Defense teams. Thybulle is a ball hawk that can lock up opposing guards on the perimeter, a valuable asset in today’s game and even more valuable with the Sixers losing Simmons’ defensive skills.

This offseason, Thybulle played in the Olympics for the Australian National team and helped the country secure its’ first ever Olympic basketball medal, a bronze. During these Olympic Games, Thybulle shined, averaging three steals per game while shooting 41 percent from 3-point range and having been a +72 for the team when he was on the court. His presence was seen and felt by the American team in the first half of the semifinals before Team USA showed their true talent.

This year will be Thybulle’s breakout season for shooting and hopefully when he develops a consistent jump shot, he can become a permanent starter for this Championship hungry team. Expect Thybulle’s ranking to go up by the time our end of the season Ranking the Sixers project comes around.