Matisse Thybulle took a breath and took a moment to explain why he made a choice – one the Philadelphia 76ers defensive specialist admitted he tried to keep hidden – not to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The Australian Tokyo Olympic medallist’s choice will cost him playing time in the NBA postseason, and could cost the Sixers in their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series against Toronto.
Thybulle is barred from Canada because unvaccinated foreign nationals are currently prohibited from entering the country and limited exemptions no longer apply to professional athletes.
Thybulle’s situation first became known last week when he was suddenly listed as “ineligible to play” on the NBA injury report on Philadelphia’s most recent trip to Toronto.
Thybulle broke his silence on Sunday once the Sixers clinched the No. 4 seed and were matched up against the fifth-seeded Raptors. The Sixers will play at least Games 3 and 4 of the series in Toronto. Game 1 is Saturday at home.
“I was raised in a holistic household, where anti-vax is not like a term that was ever used, it’s a weird term that has been kind of been thrown around to just label people,” Thybulle said.
“We grew up with Chinese medicine and naturopathic doctors. Just with that upbringing, coming into the situation, I felt like I had a solid foundation of medical resources that could serve me beyond what this vaccine could do for me.
“As things escalated, and as this situation has played out, I’ve obviously had to reconsider and look at it differently.”
Thybulle said he did feel the need to get one shot at an unspecified point of last year’s postseason – played in May and June because of COVID-19 – but did not receive a second shot.
“I felt like if I’m going to be a part of society, in the position that I’m in, I need to do what’s right for the greater good,” Thybulle said.
“That argument with the greater good held a lot of weight on me. As things progressed, as this virus has changed in many different ways, it showed … that even while being vaccinated you could spread the disease.”
The 25-year-old was a first-round pick in the 2019 draft, was named to the NBA All-Defensive second team last season and finished this season with a team-high 114 steals in 65 games (49 starts).
NBA scoring champion Joel Embiid and James Harden were expected to lead the 76ers deep into this postseason, and Thybulle has been valuable enough that his absence will be felt, weakening an already thin bench.
The Raptors won their season series against Philly 3-1.
Thybulle said he understood there are people inside the organisation, as well as fans, who are upset by his decision. He said his dad taught him to make the right decision for himself, as long as he understood the consequences.
“I considered, deeply, all the different avenues, and of course, I’ve accepted that this could hurt money, contracts, reputation, but I felt like this was the right thing that I needed to do for myself,” he said.
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