A few common refrains are prevalent in Joel Embiid’s campaigning this season. He is the MVP. Ben Simmons is Defensive Player of the Year. Tobias Harris deserves an All-NBA spot. Matisse Thybulle is the best perimeter defender in the NBA — well, him or Simmons.
That final sentiment is lofty, partisan praise for the 6-foot-5 wing. While it sounds ambitious, if Thybulle and Simmons are Embiid’s primary sources of perimeter defense across the league, his claim is certainly understandable. And if they are not, it still might be warranted, given Thybulle’s defensive artistry and second-year advancement.
During his rookie season, he quelled pervasive pre-draft narratives by establishing himself as more than just a zone specialist.