When Will Matisse Thybulle Be Crowned THE Sixers’ Fan-Favorite?
Over the last few seasons, TJ McConnell and Mike Scott have seemingly competed for the hearts of Sixers fans everywhere via their play on the floor and presence off it.
From hardwood to hive, fans found a common ground of support for two players who embodied the great city of Philadelphia through their hard work and toughness. However, before McConnell could even appear in his 1st regular-season game as a Pacer and Scott formally came off the bench in his 1st full season as a Sixer, the 20th pick in the 2019 draft, Matisse Thybulle has both literally and figuratively stolen their throne of fan-favorite.
Matisse the Player Has Shown He’s the Real Deal
Previously deemed the best defender by his peers in the annual Rookie Poll, players and fans alike could clearly see what this Washington product brings to the table on the defensive end. In five summer league games, Thybulle averaged 2.0 SPG and 1.20 BPG to go along with 11.6 PPG in 26.2 MPG.
After a strong showing in Vegas, Thybulle gave coaches and fans a lot to be excited about. That excitement has quickly developed into legitimate expectations for Thybulle as a key contributor off the bench due to his insane production against some NBA competition. As Jackson Frank has noted, in 2019 preseason action thus far, Thybulle has averaged an absurd 5.6 steals and 2.8 blocks per 36 minutes.
How Can You Not Love Matisse the Person?
Simply put, Matisse Thybulle’s story is awe-inspiring. If you haven’t watched this video for some reason, one of the things you should know is that he had the strength to play with teammates on his Senior Night at Eastside Catholic High School the night after he lost his mom to a battle with cancer. What college/pre-draft pieces like this made quite evident about Matisse is his extraordinarily inspirational attitude toward life and humble personality.
From the get-go, he’s made Sixers fans want to see more and more of him, hence his Sixers twitter stardom. There isn’t one practice facility photo or post-game video where you see Matisse without a smile on his face.
There’s a real chance Merriam-Webster adds “Matisse Thybulle’s Personality” to the dictionary definition of “infectious”.
Matisse Thybulle may be the most-likable Sixer from the onset of his career; his combination of performance and personality already warrants the designation of “The Fan-Favorite”. Apologies to Mike Scott and the Hive, you had a good run.
Featured Image: nbcsports.com
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