Matisse Thybulle is officially fully healthy as he joins the Lakers, and honestly, that’s the absolute biggest news for any fan after the guy’s brutal last two seasons. We’re talking about a player who was an immediate question mark for adding crucial wing depth and elite perimeter defense when he signed, purely because he couldn’t stay on the floor. This health update has to bring a massive sigh of relief.
The Injury Gauntlet He Just Survived Is Wild
Seriously, Thybulle’s recent injury history reads like a medical textbook of bad luck. Over the past two seasons alone, he played a shocking just 45 games. Can you even fathom missing that much time? The 2024-25 season kicked off with him sidelined after undergoing knee surgery, and then, if that wasn’t enough, a severe ankle sprain pretty much wiped out the majority of his year. You’d think it couldn’t get worse, right? But last season, the dude suffered a torn UCL in his left thumb AND right knee tendinopathy, which meant he was sidelined for a staggering 52 games. That kind of bad fortune is tough to swallow for a player who could be a real difference-maker on the court. It’s been a truly brutal stretch for the now 29-year-old.
Why This Comeback Matters for the Lakers’ Rotation
But here’s the kicker, the piece of news that changes the whole vibe: Dan Woike over at The Athletic dropped an update confirming that Thybulle is currently fully healthy. That’s *exactly* what the Lakers need. Despite all that missed time, Thybulle didn’t just crawl to the finish line with the Blazers last season, he finished strong! He got back on the court in February and played in the last 25 games of the year. Not only that, he was available for every single playoff game in their series against the Spurs, even playing in four of the five matchups. That’s a huge sign of recovery, right? We’re talking about a guy who averaged 5.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in his 30 games last season, and here’s the key part for offense: he was knocking down 3-pointers at a solid 39.8 percent clip. The season before that? He was even better from deep, hitting an impressive 43.8 percent from beyond the arc! When you’ve got a roster built around a superstar like Luka Dončić, you absolutely need high-end on-ball defenders who can also make those critical spot-up shots, and Thybulle has shown he can do exactly that.
The Big Picture: Staying On The Floor Is The Only Game
This guy is a defensive menace when he’s out there, causing chaos, and he’s proved he can consistently drain open shots. Imagine what that kind of two-way impact means for the Lakers’ rotation and overall team strategy! If Thybulle can be a consistent defensive presence and keep that jumper respectable enough that teams have to respect his shot, he could easily outperform his contract and become a huge steal. But let’s be real, for any of that potential to truly materialize, he HAS to be on the floor. After finishing last season healthy and with this fresh update, the hope is absolutely sky-high that his injury woes are behind him for good. He’s got the talent to continue to grow and develop as a player, to really lock down opposing wings and stretch the floor. The key, the ONLY key for his success with the Lakers, is his health.
The Lakers need Thybulle to be that consistent, two-way player from day one. He’s coming into the season healthy, and every fan has got to be absolutely hyped to see what he brings to the court for the upcoming season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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