The Philadelphia 76ers announced Monday morning that they will pick up the third-year contract option on guard Matisse Thybulle, guaranteeing that he will remain with the team through the 2021-22 season.
Thybulle is in his second season with the Sixers and has shown the promise of developing into a solid contributor off the bench. During his rookie season, the 23-year-old averaged 4.7 points in 19.8 minutes per game, including a 20-point effort against the Toronto Raptors last December.
He’s been used sparingly this season, playing in a combined 15 minutes as more of a situational defender. He’s attempted just one shot so far and has yet to register a point.
The Washington product had been dealing with injury issues during training camp, however, and it appears that he is being eased into the shortened 72-game season. Especially because Shake Milton and Tyrese Maxey are making an impact.
Sixers head coach Doc Rivers, though, did commit to giving Thybulle more of a chance moving forward.
“I mean, Matisse missed some time in camp,” Rivers said. “The young fellas [Maxey and Milton) are playing great… Matisse will get his chance, and I tell him that every day.
“What I liked about Matisse, you’ve been around this league a long time, I haven’t played all game, you turn to him, a lot of times they’ll give you the bad body language. Matisse ripped his [warmups], he couldn’t wait to get in. That tells me a lot about him.”
