It's been almost a year since Matisse Thybulle last played a game for the Portland Trail Blazers. The two-way wing entered the 2024-25 season sidelined after having surgery to address right knee inflammation.
Initially, the plan was that Thybulle would only miss the first few weeks of the season, with a recovery timeline of three to four weeks from his surgery back in October. But Thybulle suffered a setback in the form of a Grade 2 right ankle sprain while ramping up to return in November, the day before he was supposed to play.
As a result of the ankle sprain, Thybulle was given another recovery timeline of three to six weeks. Well, roughly 15 weeks later, Blazers fans can finally be excited about the long-awaited and confusing return of Thybulle, whose injury status continues to trend in the right direction.
On March 10, the Blazers announced that they assigned Thybulle to their G League affiliate, Rip City Remix. They recalled him later that day, making the move so Thybulle could practice with the Remix as part of his reconditioning. Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report mentioned that Thybulle could suit up during their homestretch if he continued progressing.
Blazers are finally getting Matisse Thybulle back from injury
That's looking even more realistic with Portland recently upgrading Thybulle to questionable for their March 12 game against the New York Knicks, the start of a seven-game homestretch that Highkin was referring to.
Update: Thybulle is expected to suit up against the Knicks, per NBA insider Chris Haynes.
It's unfortunate that Thybulle has already missed the Blazers' first 66 games of the season and may be too little too late in terms of helping catalyze a push for a Play-In Tournament, as Portland is five games back from the ten-seeded Dallas Mavericks. But having Thybulle back will help those slim odds.
The Blazers need more two-way wings, and Thybulle will add much-needed depth. His agility as a defender will be something to monitor, but hopefully, he returns to his elite defensive status sooner rather than later.
With a healthy and productive Thybulle in the mix, Chauncey Billups will have another wing who can guard multiple positions at his disposal. The idea of having Toumani Camara and Thybulle shutting down the opposing team's wings is something that Blazers fans have dreamed about since last season and is even more intriguing given Camara's breakout sophomore campaign.
Things are trending up for Thybulle to be able to play against New York, but if he can't go, his next shot at a long-awaited season debut will come on Sunday, March 16, against the Toronto Raptors.