One of the quieter moves the Los Angeles Lakers made this summer may turn out to matter a lot more than it first looked. Bringing in Matisse Thybulle gave the Lakers another defensive-minded wing, and early signs from training camp suggest he’s already making his presence felt.
That matters because the Lakers had to replace a major perimeter stopper after Marcus Smart, the one-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, left in free agency for the Houston Rockets. Thybulle arrived on a veteran minimum contract, but his defensive reputation gives the Lakers a real shot at filling that void without spending big.
The injury history is still part of the conversation. Thybulle has been limited over the past two seasons, appearing in just 45 regular-season games for the Portland Trail Blazers.
That’s a real concern for JJ Redick and his staff as they look ahead to the 2026-27 campaign. But when Thybulle has been healthy, he’s been exactly the kind of disruptive defender who changes possessions.
Early in his career with the Philadelphia 76ers, Thybulle was viewed as one of the league’s top perimeter defenders. He made the NBA All-Defensive Second Team twice and built his name by causing problems all over the floor when he was locked in.
Health, though, is not something Thybulle is worrying about right now. At media day, he made it clear he’s ready to go for the regular season.
He’s also eager to fit into a roster built around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, believing his 3-and-D skill set can complement what those two do best. But it’s Walker Kessler who has Thybulle most excited. Thybulle believes Kessler’s rim presence will give him room to be “more aggressive” defensively, and that combination could be a nasty one for opposing teams.
The Lakers still haven’t played a preseason game yet, with Oct. 5 set to bring their opener against the Sacramento Kings. Even so, there’s already a real buzz around what this group could become on defense. With Thybulle and Kessler in the mix, Los Angeles has a chance to be a much tougher, more complete team in the Western Conference.
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Reaves pointed to Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Adou Thiero and Walker Kessler as additions who bring length, competitiveness and defensive versatility to a roster that could use all of it. The optimism around camp is understandable, but the real question is whether the Lakers can turn those traits into a consistent identity once the games count, because for all their scoring, their championship case likely hinges on whether the defense is finally ready to hold up. [Read more 🡒]
Luka Doncic Had Austin Reaves Cracking Up At Lakers Practice
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Reaves commented on the streak in the moment, and the video backed it up by showing Doncic make four of five attempts from beyond half court. It was a small snapshot, but it fit the easygoing chemistry and competitive banter the two have already shown while working together this season, with both players carrying meaningful roles for Los Angeles. [Read more 🡒]