Matisse Thybulle locks down future at Portland

• Australian star Matisse Thybulle exercised his $11.5 million player-option on his contract with Portland for the 2025-26 season
• Thybulle averaged a career high 7.5 points per game in his limited 2024-25 season
• He made his season debut on March 17, 2025 against Toronto before finishing with 15 games

Australian defensive specialist Matisse Thybulle has opted to remain with the Portland Trail Blazers for the 2025-26 NBA season, exercising his $11.5 million player option.

This decision, confirmed by a league source to Blazer's Edge, ensures the Boomers wing will complete the full term of his three-year, $33 million contract in Portland.

The 28-year-old's decision provides stability to a Blazers roster that has already undergone significant transformation, with the departure of Anfernee Simons to the Boston Celtics in exchange for defensive maestro Jrue Holiday.

Thybulle's 2024-25 campaign was largely derailed by a series of unfortunate injuries, limiting him to just 15 appearances in the latter portion of the season.

Despite these setbacks, his impact upon returning to the court was immediate and substantial.

Thybulle's decision to remain with the Blazers aligns with the organisation's apparent shift toward prioritising a defensive identity. The acquisition of Jrue Holiday — widely regarded as one of the NBA's premier perimeter defenders — further signals this defensive emphasis.

The potential pairing of Holiday and Thybulle gives head coach Chauncey Billups two elite defensive options to deploy against opposing backcourts and wings. This defensive foundation could prove particularly valuable for a young Blazers team still developing its competitive identity.

For a Portland squad that has struggled defensively in recent seasons, the retention of Thybulle alongside the addition of Holiday represents a significant investment in that end of the floor. The duo's combined defensive prowess could dramatically alter opponents' perimeter scoring opportunities and create transition chances through turnovers.