The Philadelphia 76ers have a ton of talent on their team. They are headlined by an All-Star duo in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, one of the more versatile players in the league in Josh Richardson, a borderline All-Star in Tobias Harris, and a successful veteran in Al Horford.
Then, there’s one young player who has caught the attention of the veterans on the team. Matisse Thybulle, who was selected 20th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, has had one of the more impressive rookie seasons to date and has made an immediate impact on a championship contender.
It is due to that impact that has Simmons believing he should win the Rookie of the Year award. Simmons was asked the question at All-Star weekend in Chicago on Saturday and he had a simple answer.
Ben Simmons was asked who he thought should win Rookie of the Year. His answer: "Matisse."
— Michael K-B (@therealmikekb) February 15, 2020
While Thybulle does not have the highlight mixtape of a Ja Morant or a Zion Williamson, he has made a big impact in Philadelphia. His effort on the defensive end still has the Sixers in championship contention despite being just the 5 seed in the East.
He leads all rookies in steals by a wide margin and he now ranks third in total blocks amongst the rookies. Unfortunately, which was the case for his snub from the Rising Stars Challenge, he is unlikely to win the award due to his low offensive numbers and lack of highlights. It does not, however, take away from his impressive season. [lawrence-related id=25847,25839,25796]