Matisse Thybulle knows exactly what comes with wearing purple and gold.
After a summer of major roster turnover, the Lakers added Thybulle as part of their push to reshape the team in free agency, and the veteran wing arrives with a clear job description: defend, disrupt and strengthen L.A.’s wing rotation. That’s been his calling card in the NBA, where he built his reputation as an elite perimeter stopper with a style all his own.
He also understands the stage he’s stepping onto. In a recent interview, Thybulle said:
“I think it’s a special opportunity to play for such a historic franchise, an accomplished franchise. To contribute in a jersey that so many great players have worn is something that I’m really excited about.”
That’s the Lakers in a nutshell - a massive fan base, championship expectations and 17 NBA championship banners staring down everyone who walks into the building. Thybulle’s awareness of that pressure stands out, especially for a player who should factor heavily into the rotation next season.
The new chapter even shows up on the back of his jersey. Thybulle will wear No. 26, and his explanation was straightforward:
“I chose 26 because the two numbers I’ve worn in the NBA are 22 and 4. Adds up to 26.
So, yeah, I chose this number because I just feel like it’s a new chapter, a fresh start, but still knowing what got me here. There’s a number I’ve never worn, a color I’ve never worn, a whole lot of newness.”
It’s not a number tied to a favorite player or a childhood memory. For Thybulle, it’s about the reset - a fresh start in a new uniform.
He’ll be doing it on a veteran minimum deal, with one season to show what he can still bring. Injuries have followed him at points in his career, including much of last season, but he finished strong by appearing in 26 straight games to close out the 2025-26 campaign. Over that stretch, he put up 5.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.9 steals and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 41.9% from the field and 37.9% from three.
The sample is small, but the defensive impact was hard to miss. With an offseason to recover, Thybulle could enter the new season at full strength, and if he does, the Lakers may have found a useful defensive piece at exactly the right time.
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For Los Angeles, it is a low-cost addition with a familiar modern appeal: a wing who can fit next to bigger names without needing the ball in his hands. For Brooklyn fans, it is another reminder of a player once in their orbit finding a new home elsewhere, even as the Lakers hope Williams can settle into the kind of three-and-D role that has become increasingly valuable over the course of a long season. [Read more 🡒]
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Lakers Still Have One Frontcourt Decision That Could Shape This Season
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One name that keeps making sense in that search is Isaiah Stewart, whose defensive profile would give Los Angeles a tougher interior presence and another layer of frontcourt depth. For a team trying to survive the early part of the season while reworking its identity, the decision on whether to add a big man like Stewart could end up shaping more than just the rotation. [Read more 🡒]