Atlanta Hawks: 5 Reasons to Draft Matisse Thybulle in 2019 NBA Draft
By Chris Guest
![Matisse Thybulle Atlanta Hawks 2019 NBA Draft (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Matisse Thybulle Atlanta Hawks 2019 NBA Draft (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/efe0a8f005a3ce17f5c2fc818a637b31049536bac30f4ccb1b25a87ef2bf5552.jpg)
Offense
Despite all of this praise heaped upon Thybulle for his incredible defense, basketball is not just a one-way game. So what of Thybulle’s offensive game?
While not quite as astonishing as his defense, Thybulle should be able to carve out a role for himself on the offensive end due to his aforementioned quick-twitch athleticism as well as, more importantly, rock-solid shooting mechanics from downtown.
In his college career, Thybulle had a three-point attempt rate above 50 percent and he shot 35.8 percent from deep on those tries. Though his career effective field goal percentage of 52.2 percent might not be eye-popping, those numbers are good enough that his three-point stroke at least has to be guarded.
Because of his brilliance on the less glamorous end, if Thybulle can just be a slight positive on the other side of the ball, he’ll be an important player for the Atlanta Hawks.
Beyond that, Thybulle’s speed and surprisingly explosive first step as well as an underrated leaping ability means that he should be able to play a huge role in the Atlanta Hawks’ fast-paced offensive system that head coach Lloyd Pierce implemented in his successful first season with the team.
An opportunistic cutter with a tight handle and the ability to attack closeouts sparingly, Thybulle should be enough of a positive on offense that his sparkling defense never gets played off the floor on the other end.