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Former Sixers Standout Getting Odd Push for Yearly Award

Former Philadelphia 76ers standout Matisse Thybulle is putting together an odd campaign.
Justin Grasso|
Oct 29, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) drives
Oct 29, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) drives | Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

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Philadelphia 76ersPortland Trail Blazers

In the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Matisse Thybulle. While his game was limited on the offensive end, he was extremely impactful on the other end. Despite what he could do on defense, the Sixers made the decision to move Thybulle at the 2023 trade deadline.

Now, with the Portland Trail Blazers, Thybulle is still a high-level defensive talent. After making two All-Defense teams in Philly, the young forward is getting an odd push to land the accolade again.

In hopes of getting Thybulle All-Defense votes this year, the Trail Blazers decided to run an odd promotion. They sent a gift to all voters by sending a tin full of cookies. However, instead of nutritional facts, Thybulle’s defensive stats were listed.

Thybulle, 27, is wrapping up his first full season with the Blazers. He is averaging 5.4 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.7 SPG, and 0.8 BPG.

Part of why the Sixers moved on from Thybulle was because of his offensive shortcomings. Since he couldn’t stretch the defense as a shooter, it made life tougher for Joel Embiid on that end of the floor. When Thybulle first got dealt, it looks like his three-point shot was coming around. However, he regressed back to around his average this season.

In 22 games following the trade, Thybulle shot 38.8% from deep on close to four attempts per game. This season, he shot 34.6% on a similar volume.

Even with his one-sided play, Thybulle still managed to secure a lucrative deal in free agency. Over the summer, he signed a three-year, $33 million deal to stay in Portland.

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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s Philadelphia 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia Threads: @JGrassoMedia

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