It's been quite some time since the Philadelphia 76ers had a roster that featured the defensive phenom, Matisse Thybulle.
Still, the new Los Angeles Lakers wing is finding a unique way to honor his Sixers days while embracing the fresh start that he's getting out in California. For Thybulle, the memories are in the number.
A unique way to ring in the new opportunity
When Thybulle dons his Lakers threads in 2026-2027, the veteran will wear No. 26. He recently revealed that the reason behind the choice is simply his previous two NBA numbers put together.
During his recent stint with the Portland Trail Blazers, Thybulle wore No. 4. That was a change in number from his Sixers days, when Thybulle got off to his NBA career by wearing No. 22.
"I just feel like it’s a new chapter, a fresh start, but still knowing what got me here," Thybulle said in a video that was posted to the Lakers' official YouTube channel.
Thybulle moved on from the Sixers years ago, but it doesn't come as a surprise that he still wants to honor that run. When Thybulle landed with the 76ers in 2019, he quickly established himself as a fan favorite. Certainly, not everyone was thrilled to see him go in 2023.
The Matisse Thybulle-Philly connection
The Sixers moved up in a trade with the Boston Celtics to acquire Thybulle during the 2019 NBA Draft. Coming out of Washington, Thybulle was a defensive standout who quickly managed to win a spot within Brett Brown's rotation.
As a rookie, Thybulle appeared in 65 games. Seeing the court for just under 20 minutes per game, Thybulle produced 4.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. He knocked down 35.7% of his threes.
Over the next two seasons, Thybulle would see his playing time increase. By 2021-2022, he averaged 25.5 minutes per game. Thybulle was a key rotational piece for the Sixers, living up to the hype of being one of the top defensive standouts in the NBA.
Amid the 2022-2023 season, Thybulle fell out of favor with the Sixers. Despite the previous front office regime making it clear that they viewed Thybulle as a critical piece for the present and the future, the defensive star was shipped to the Blazers. Thybulle spent the past three seasons playing for Portland and struggling to stay healthy.
After signing with the Lakers in 2026, Thybulle is getting another chance to prove that he's a valuable rotational player in the league. The two-time All-Defensive player will look to get back on track with his fresh start in the purple and gold.
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