Thybulle forced to take holistic approach to Toronto series

PHILADELPHIA » Matisse Thybulle will not be available for the Sixers’ playoff games in Canada during their first-round series with the Toronto Raptors. That is his choice.

Thybulle confirmed that after Sunday’s 118-106 win over Detroit. He said he is not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and thus cannot enter Canada.

Thybulle offered a lengthy explanation for his decision to only get one vaccine dose. Raised in what he called “a holistic” household with “Chinese medicine and naturopathic doctors,” he explained that after contracting COVID, he elected alternative methods to keep him safe.

“I did consider getting vaccinated and went through with getting the first dose because at that point I was under the impression that getting vaccinated would mean that I could not get the disease and transmit it to other people,” Thybulle said. “I felt like if I was going to be part of society in the position I am, I need to do what’s right for the greater good. That argument for the greater good held a lot of weight for me.

“But as things progressed, as this virus has changed many different ways, it showed to the science that that wasn’t the case anymore, that while being vaccinated you could still spread the disease. For me in my reasoning, it felt like getting vaccinated was something that I needed to do to protect other people, and was something that I would need to do protect myself. And with that being considered and the holistic background of my upbringing and just the way I view medicine in general, I thought I was secure in going to the doctors that I have to treat COVID if I did get it. In the case that I did, I was able to go about it in my holistic way and I’m able to sit here healthy and OK because of it.”

Thybulle considered the ramifications, but the third-year pro echoed his father’s advice that, “you’re free to do whatever you want as long as you’re willing to accept the consequences of it.” In this case, he’s willing to miss Games 3, 4 and (if necessary) 6 in the series with the fifthseeded Raptors.

Thybulle stuck to his stance even as a Raptors matchup became increasingly likely. He would be considered fully vaccinated by Canada two weeks after a second dose.

“Having had the stance that I’ve had for almost a year now, I feel like it couldn’t be something I could be forced to do because of rules or regulations,” he said, “and it just seemed like the right thing for me to see it through.”

Thybulle said the organization never mandated vaccination. He believes he has support within the locker room.

“From fans to coaches to front office to teammates, there are people who are upset and people who don’t understand, but ultimately I’ve been lucky enough to have them voice that they disagree but they still support me in my decisionmaking,” Thybulle said. “With that being said, I’m still going to be there and give 110 percent every time I’m available to be on the court.”