The clever guard,24,was a central figure in the Boomers’ undefeatedrun against Argentina,Team USA andNigeria through a series of exhibition matches in Las Vegas,where his scoring was a particularly welcome sight. While he was named to the NBA all-defensive second team this season,the Philadelphia 76er averages 3.9 points per game.
“For me,it’s pretty obvious what I bring to the table. That’s athleticism,defence and,as I keep growing,what I can do around the three-point line,” Thybulle toldThe Age andSydney Morning Herald.
“It’s just great to see how well my skill set has integrated,just being able to complement them[teammates] as best I can is ultimately my goal. It’s been so fun for me to do that and have so much success early.”
The blue-chip perimeter defender was born in Scottsdale,Arizona,but lived in Sydney from the age of 2 until he was 9 with his parents Greg,a Haitian-born engineer raised in New York,and mother Elizabeth,a naturopath.
He grew up on the North Shore,attending North Sydney Demonstration School,and remembers days out to Manly and Bondi beaches and playing in the parks.
His father,who regularly travelled,ensured his son qualified for a dual passport before the family returned to the US,something Thybulle – named after the French artist Henri Matisse,whose work inspired Greg while he was backpacking through Europe – didn’t really appreciate as a youngster.
“He used to make such a deal of that when we were kids. I was like:‘Who cares?’ As a kid you take everything for granted,right?” Thybulle said.