How Matisse Thybulle ended up with the Lakers

LOS ANGELES — Matisse Thybulle has built his NBA career on making life miserable for opposing offenses. Now, after years of establishing himself as one of the league’s most disruptive perimeter defenders, he has arrived in Los Angeles with an opportunity to bring that same identity to the Lakers.

The 29-year-old signed a one-year, $3.3 million deal with the Lakers this summer after being recruited by head coach JJ Redick and Luka Dončić. For a player whose defensive instincts have earned him recognition throughout his career, the move represents an opportunity to carve out a meaningful role on a team with championship aspirations.

Through the opening four games of the season, Thybulle is still finding his rhythm in Los Angeles. His contributions have not always translated into the box score, but the Lakers believe his defensive versatility and ability to disrupt opposing offenses can become an important part of their identity.

“I'm really excited that we got him,” Redick said.

For the Lakers, Thybulle's arrival is about more than adding another defender. It is also the continuation of a relationship that began years before either man knew they would eventually work together in Los Angeles.

A full-circle moment with JJ Redick

Redick first met Thybulle in September 2021, shortly after retiring from the NBA. At the time, Redick was in Philadelphia filming a podcast, reflecting on his transition away from playing, when he crossed paths with the young defensive standout.

The encounter left a lasting impression.

“I was just struck by how thoughtful he was,” Redick said. “He’s just a genuine thoughtful human being.”

Redick recalled enjoying Thybulle's company and wishing he were still playing so he could spend more time around him. He saw a young player with a bright future and appreciated the person behind the basketball talent.

Five years later, that relationship has come full circle. Instead of sharing a locker room as teammates, Redick is now the coach responsible for helping Thybulle maximize his abilities.

The Lakers' interest became more concrete during the summer, when Redick and Thybulle had an extended conversation about his role, physical condition and plans for the upcoming season.

“We had a long conversation in July and he felt like he kinda figured out some stuff with his body towards the end of last season,” Redick said.

According to Redick, the Lakers worked with Thybulle to establish a routine and provide him with a support system he could trust. Their preseason conversations reinforced his confidence in the plan and the people around him.

The early returns have exceeded Redick's expectations.

“I would say pleasantly surprised,” Redick said. “He’s obviously playing great and he’s a big part of what we’re trying to do and him being on the court is a big boost for us.”

That confidence matters for a player whose value has often extended beyond conventional offensive statistics. Thybulle does not need to dominate the ball to influence a game. He can change possessions by anticipating passing lanes, pressuring ballhandlers and forcing opponents into uncomfortable decisions.

In Los Angeles, those qualities could prove especially valuable alongside a star-driven offense.

Recruited by Luka Dončić, challenged by Luka Dončić

Dončić's involvement in recruiting Thybulle offered another indication of what the Lakers envision for their new addition.

For Thybulle, joining a team led by one of the NBA's most gifted offensive players presents an opportunity to learn from an elite talent while sharpening his defensive instincts in practice.

Following Dončić's 52-point performance Sunday, Thybulle had a straightforward assessment of what a superstar like that means for a role player.

“Makes my job a lot easier,” Thybulle said.

“I just gotta play some defense. But, yeah, he's a special player. He's one of those freaks of nature where even if you just watch in practice, he does crazy things.”

That is the balance the Lakers hope to strike. Dončić can shoulder much of the offensive responsibility, allowing Thybulle to concentrate on the defensive assignments that have defined his career.

But playing alongside Dončić also means facing him in practice, where the Lakers' perimeter defenders are regularly challenged by some of the most difficult offensive matchups imaginable.

Thybulle understands that the daily competition is part of the benefit.

“Guarding Luka and AR, practice is definitely going to be harder than the games,” Thybulle said.

The reference to Austin Reaves underscores the value of the Lakers' practice environment. Preparing against two high-level offensive creators can help Thybulle recognize actions more quickly and improve his ability to navigate screens, contest shots and stay disciplined against players who can score at multiple levels.

If those repetitions translate into games, the Lakers could have a defender better equipped to handle difficult assignments throughout the season.

From Sydney to Seattle, a defensive identity takes shape

Thybulle's journey to Los Angeles began thousands of miles away.

Born in Scottsdale, Arizona, he moved from Sydney, Australia to Seattle at nine years old, beginning a transition that would eventually shape both his basketball development and his connection to the Pacific Northwest.

The adjustment was not necessarily easy. Moving to a different country at such a young age meant adapting to a new environment while finding his place in a new community.

Seattle eventually became home.

Thybulle spent his first two years of high school at Skyline High School before transferring to Eastside Catholic for his final two seasons. His defensive instincts and growing basketball ability helped establish him as a highly regarded recruit in the 2014 class.

Despite opportunities to look elsewhere, Thybulle wanted to remain close to home. He chose the University of Washington, where he spent all four years of his college career as a Husky.

It was there that his reputation as an elite defender began to take on historic proportions.

During his senior season in 2018-19, Thybulle recorded 126 steals, breaking Jason Kidd's Pac-12 single-season record. His ability to read passing lanes, anticipate opponents' decisions and turn defensive pressure into turnovers made him one of the most disruptive players in college basketball.

His performance helped establish him as one of the premier defensive prospects in the 2019 NBA Draft.

The Boston Celtics selected Thybulle with the 20th overall pick before trading his draft rights to the Philadelphia 76ers. It was the beginning of a professional career built around a skill set that translated immediately to the NBA.

From Philadelphia to Portland to Los Angeles

Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Sep 28, 2026; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers player Matisse Thybulle (26) during media day at UCLA Health Training Center.

Thybulle spent his first three NBA seasons with Philadelphia, where his defensive reputation continued to grow. He earned NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors twice, establishing himself as a player capable of making an impact against some of the league's most dangerous perimeter threats.

His time with the 76ers gave him valuable experience competing in meaningful games and defending elite offensive players.

During his fourth season, Philadelphia traded him to Portland. The change gave Thybulle a new opportunity, and he ultimately spent approximately three and a half seasons with the Trail Blazers.

Portland became another important chapter in his career, both professionally and personally. He developed familiarity with the organization and the city, making his eventual departure for Los Angeles more than a routine change of teams.

Now with the Lakers, Thybulle is entering another new environment, one in which his defensive ability could complement a roster built around offensive firepower.

His statistical profile continues to reflect that specialty. Last season, among players who appeared in more than 20 games, Thybulle led the NBA in deflections and steals per 36 minutes.

Those numbers illustrate why the Lakers pursued him. Steals and deflections do not always show up in traditional evaluations of a player's overall impact, but they can swing momentum, create transition opportunities and force opposing offenses to abandon their preferred actions.

Through the first three games entering Tuesday's matchup, Thybulle was averaging nine points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 24.4 minutes per game while shooting 46% from beyond the arc.

That three-point shooting could become an important part of his fit in Los Angeles. Defensively, opponents know what he brings. If he can also convert open perimeter looks consistently, it becomes more difficult for opposing teams to limit his minutes by exploiting him on the offensive end.

A reunion with Portland and a special return for Damian Lillard

Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Aug 9, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Matisse Thybulle #22 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second quarter at Visa Athletic Center at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 09, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Tuesday's matchup against Portland carried additional significance for Thybulle.

Facing his former team brought familiar faces and memories from three and a half seasons with the Trail Blazers. It also gave him an opportunity to reflect on Damian Lillard's return to the organization and what it means to a city that has long embraced its star guard.

Thybulle knows Lillard well, and he understands the connection between the veteran guard and Portland's basketball community.

“I've known Dame for a long time,” Thybulle said. “Having lived in Portland for a few years, I know how much it means to him because he loves that city, he loves that team.”

Thybulle described Lillard's return as a compelling story arc, expressing happiness at the possibility of the veteran spending the closing chapter of his career with the organization and city he loves.

For Thybulle, the significance extends beyond basketball statistics or roster construction. Lillard's relationship with Portland demonstrates how a generational talent can become inseparable from a city's identity.

“A rising tide lifts all boats,” Thybulle said. “He's able to uplift an entire team just on his talent.”

It is a perspective shaped by someone who has spent much of his life in the Pacific Northwest and understands the emotional connection between a community and its basketball team.

Thybulle's appreciation for Lillard also reflects his understanding of the challenge of defending a player with that level of offensive ability. Even at this stage of his career, Lillard's range, shot creation and ability to generate offense under pressure make him a difficult assignment.

For Thybulle, those matchups are another reminder of the caliber of players he must prepare for as the Lakers pursue their goals.

The Seattle connection remains personal

Portland's uncertain future has also brought back memories for Thybulle of another Pacific Northwest basketball community that lost its team.

Growing up in Seattle, Thybulle was a fan of the SuperSonics. The franchise's move to Oklahoma City in 2008, following the team's selection of Kevin Durant in 2007, left a lasting impression on him as a young basketball fan.

He remembers what it meant to watch a team leave a city that had supported it.

Speaking during Tuesday's shootaround, Thybulle addressed the broader discussion surrounding Portland and the importance of maintaining a franchise's connection to its market.

“My preference would be that my allegiance is with Seattle,” Thybulle said. “I grew up a Sonic fan. I'd love for Seattle to get a team someday.”

Thybulle acknowledged that he does not know all the factors that determine whether an NBA franchise relocates, and he was careful not to speculate about Portland's circumstances.

“But hopefully, Seattle gets a team someday, that'd be cool,” he said.

The comments offered a glimpse into the personal side of a player who has experienced the emotional consequences of a franchise's departure from the perspective of a fan. For Thybulle, the possibility of Seattle eventually returning to the NBA remains something he would welcome.

It is another connection that links his past in Washington, his years in Portland and his present in Los Angeles.

Finding his place in Los Angeles

Tuesday's game against the Trail Blazers ended in a 136-129 loss for the Lakers, with Thybulle recording five points, two rebounds and one assist while committing three turnovers in 22 minutes.

The performance was not his most productive, but it came during a period in which he is still learning the nuances of a new system and building chemistry with teammates.

Four games into the season, the Lakers are still determining how best to deploy their new defensive specialist. His role will inevitably fluctuate depending on matchups, rotations and the team's needs on a given night.

The early offensive production is encouraging, particularly his perimeter shooting entering Tuesday. Yet the clearest path to consistent minutes remains the same one that has carried him throughout his career: defense, effort and the ability to disrupt opponents without requiring the ball.

Redick's confidence in Thybulle suggests the Lakers see more than a short-term addition. They see a player whose defensive identity can help establish standards for the team, while his experience and preparation can make him a reliable option against difficult matchups.

For Thybulle, the opportunity is equally significant. He has moved from Sydney to Seattle, developed into a record-setting college defender at Washington, established himself in Philadelphia and spent several seasons in Portland. Each stop has helped shape the player who now finds himself in Los Angeles.

His journey has been defined by adaptation, persistence and an ability to find value in the things that do not always appear on the scoreboard.

The Lakers did not sign Thybulle to become another offensive superstar. They signed him because they believe he can make their stars' jobs easier, disrupt opposing offenses and provide the defensive edge needed when the games matter most.

As he settles into his new role, the challenge is turning that reputation into a consistent impact in Los Angeles.

And with Redick's belief in him, Dončić's recruitment and a practice environment that pushes him every day, Thybulle has a promising opportunity to do exactly that.