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The Philadelphia 76ers made a couple of big additions to their roster at the wing spot as they look to move on from the disappointing 2019-20 season. The team added more shooters to help space the floor for Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.
Additions Seth Curry and Danny Green as well as rookies Tyrese Maxey and Isaiah Joe play similar positions to holdovers Matisse Thybulle and Furkan Korkmaz. This means there will be competition in camp to see who is in coach Doc Rivers’ rotation when the season begins on Dec. 22.
With Green unable to join the team until Dec. 8 when his trade acquisition from the Oklahoma City Thunder will be complete, Thybulle and Korkmaz can make a statement early. Maybe Thybulle could earn himself a starting spot to begin the season.
“I don’t really think in those terms if I’m being honest,” Thybulle explained. “I came into this last season just wanting to be a part of the team and a part of our success in whatever way that took form. I was lucky enough to start a couple of games, which is not something I really planned for, and I think coming into this next season is the same thing.”
A guy such as Thybulle should have the advantage due to his one season with the team, but this is a new team. A new roster with a new coach means he will have to fight in camp to prove himself again.
“Even though it’s a clean slate for most people and sure I might have a little bit of an advantage because I was here last year, it’s a new coach,” he added. “I feel like I have to prove myself again. We’ll just see what happens.”
As for Korkmaz, this is nothing new. Heading into the 2019-20 season, his NBA future was called into question, and there were concerns whether he would stick. He had to fight in camp for that time, and he understands it will be the same this upcoming season despite his breakout season.
“For me, the challenge is the same every year,” he explained. “Just the names are different. They’re my teammates, but competition is the same for me. I just need to go out there to play my best game to get the jersey and keep the minutes.”
Korkmaz’s advantage over players such as Maxey and Joe is he has been in the league, and he understands what is expected of him despite a new coaching staff. He also has the confidence of Rivers heading into the preseason.
“I’m not going into this season as a young player anymore,” Korkmaz added. “I know the league, I’ve been in the league long enough to understand the game. This will be my fourth year in the league. I’m ready to fight. I’m ready to show everybody what I have. Nobody is going to get an opportunity; I have to fight.”
Getting off to a fast start in training camp and in the preseason will be on the mind of a lot of players, especially Thybulle as he continues to prove himself in the league.
“I definitely think it’s important to get off to a good start,” he said. “In general, that was my approach and last year and even though I have a year under my belt, I still feel like I’m in a similar position of having to come in and prove myself and not having a body of work to just lean on to be like a co-sign of what I’m capable of. It’s going to be important for me to come out strong and prove myself in training camp and these preseason games is going to be huge.”
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