Bogut backing tyro as Boomer

ANDREW Bogut says the Boomers would welcome Philadelphia 76ers rookie Matisse Thybulle into the Australian men’s basketball team.

Thybulle, who was born in the US but spent part of his childhood in Sydney and is believed to hold dual citizenship, is an NBA teammate of Ben Simmons.

Sydney Kings star Bogut, who says he wasn’t aware that Thybulle was eligible for Australian selection, has heaped praise on the 22year-old defensive expert.

“Yeah, a very interesting one [the Thybulle situation],” Bogut told RSN. “I wasn’t even aware that he grew up in Australia, so that shows how much I know.

“He has his citizenship and he’s one of their best young defenders, and there’s a lot on that roster there.

“The more length and NBA athleticism we can get on the Boomers team, we welcome with open arms.”

Bogut said he didn’t envy the position of Boomers coach Brett Brown, who is also in charge of Simmons and Thybulle in Philadelphia, with picking a final squad for this year’s Games.

“It’s going to be a tough roster to pick 12 [players] out of for Brett Brown, who definitely has his work cut out for him picking that squad,” Bogut said.

Thybulle, a 196cm shooting guard/small forward, has spoken fondly of his time in Australia as a child.

Simmons recently backed his Sixers teammate, who was named US college basketball’s best defensive player last season, to play for the Boomers at the Olympics.

“He’s going to play for Australia. He’s great,” Simmons told reporters at an NBA All-Star press conference in Chicago on Saturday.

After being selected 20th in the 2019 NBA draft and traded to Philadelphia, Thybulle has played in 47 of the Sixers’ 55 games this campaign — averaging just under five points per game in 20 minutes per outing.

But it is his toughness and defensive prowess that has impressed most.

He went into the All-Star break with 68 steals and 40 blocked shots.