Aussies in the NBA: Matisse Thybulle opens up on Boomers’ reality check; Joe Ingles on big switch

AUSSIES IN THE NBA: Matisse Thybulle was a shock omission from the Boomers’ doomed Olympic campaign – and he’s opened up on just how much that call stung. Plus the latest from Josh Giddey and Joe Ingles on their off-season moves.

Matisse Thybulle has spoken of his surprise and hurt at being left out of the Boomers’ failed Olympics campaign, admitting the decision burned the dynamic small forward.

Thybulle, who returns from the Portland Trail Blazers this season, had been a crucial cog in the Boomers’ breakthrough bronze-medal victory at the Tokyo Games and was expecting to play a pivotal role once more.

But he was one of the last stars cut from Brian Goorjian’s squad – and instead he had to watch from afar as Australia’s squad fell well short of the medal rounds in Paris.

So how did he handle the disappointment?

“I handled it by getting on a flight and sitting there for 15 hours just thinking about it,” Thybulle said on Monday.

Matisse Thybulle in action during the Boomers’ successful campaign at the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: Adam Head

“What do you learn from it? I guess that nothing’s guaranteed. I got into there with an assumption that I would have been on the team and I wasn’t, so just having to deal with the sense of entitlement I might have had going in there.

“That’s a deeper one than just a simple answer, but (there was) plenty of stuff to think about and process.”

Thybulle has been a Trail Blazer since February of last year, and has grown into his role as one of the competition’s lockdown defenders – regularly being described by coach Chauncey Billups as a defensive “wizard”.

It’s a compliment that caught the attention of the affable star.

“I think it’s a beautiful compliment. I feel like I’ve waited my whole life for somebody to notice me in that way,” he said.

“To get that is extremely validating. I don’t think I approach it like defensive players in the past or what is considered normal. To be celebrated for being a little bit different but still effective feels really good.”

Patty Mills with teammate Boomers Matisse Thybulle. Picture: AFP

GIDDEY ON INJURY, HIS MOST HEART-BREAKING LOSS

Josh Giddey has revealed he wrecked his ankle on the very last play of the Boomers’ Olympic quarter-final clash with Serbia — the most “heartbreaking” loss of his career.

Traded from Oklahoma City in the off-season, Giddey is yet to practice with his new team Chicago after the ruptured Anterior Talo-Fibular Ligament wrecked his off-season preparations.

And the 21-year-old lamented the loss to Serbia that dumped the Boomers from the Paris tournament — squandering a 24-point lead, the largest in Olympic history.

“You didn’t have to remind me about that,” Giddey said during the Bulls’ media day.

“That was a game that just sat with me for weeks after that happened and probably for me the most heartbreaking loss of my career.

“We were right there, we got up 25 (24) points against a team as talented as that and we had every opportunity to win that game and move on to the semi-finals.

Josh Giddey lamented the Boomers’ gutwrenching quarter-final loss to Serbia. Picture: Adam Head

“To end the Olympic campaign that way was very hard to do and I think it adds fuel to the fire for the next time you go back to another Olympic Games.

“We’ve got to wait until LA in ‘28 but I know the guys that we have in the group are going to be ready to go again and don’t want to feel something like that again.

“These things help you as a player build character so we know for next time that to beat a team like that it’s going to take 40 minutes, you can’t do it in 20.”

In disturbing late scenes, Giddey roared in pain as his ankle turned on landing from a missed layup as time expired in the 95-90 overtime loss to Serbia.

“Originally we thought (it was) just an ankle roll so it was going to be the regular rehab … (but) then scans did confirm it was an ATFL rupture and we started rehab when I got back in Melbourne,” Giddey said.

“Everything’s getting much better and these things it’s probably at a point where if it was a playoff game I’d be out there playing but, because we’re in the off-season this isn’t something you want to rush and we just want to get it 100 per cent right.”

Josh Giddey speaks to the media as a new member of the Chicago Bulls. Picture: AFP

Much has been made of the new look Bulls who traded away several key pieces in the off-season — Giddey the biggest prize — and how a quintet of ball-dominant guards in he, Zach LaVine, Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White and an eventually fit Lonzo Ball, will coexist.

Coach Billy Donovan said Giddey’s inability to take the floor has left doubt over how the Bulls will look on opening night but he said the Bulls would experiment with three-gaurd line-ups.

“Because of Josh’s situation we’ve had a lot of guys in here for most of September (but) he’s the one guy who really hasn’t been able to get out there with those guys,” Donovan said.

“Clearly, he’s going to be a major part to the team.

“It’s hard for me to sit here and say ‘on opening night, this is who we’re going to start’ when I haven’t even seen those guys really play together, in particular Josh.

“But I’m not opposed to playing quote unquote three point guards or three guards together at all.

“I think it can be very effective, provided those guys all understand what that entails.”

Giddey confirmed he would be ready for opening night at New Orleans on Thursday, October 24. - MICHAEL RANDALL

INGLES EXPLAINS OFF-SEASON SWITCH

Joe Ingles made the off-season move from the Orlando Magic to defeated Western Conference finalists the Minnesota Timberwolves, and explained some of the intricacies around that switch.

Ingles will go it alone for the season, with his wife Renee staying in Orlando with the couple’s three children, highlighting the veteran Australian’s determination to win with his new team.

Son Jacob, who is autistic, is settled into school in Orlando and Ingles said that would ensure the family are “Orlando natives for a long time”.

But the thought of retiring wasn’t on the mind of the soon-to-be 37 year old.

“For me, it’s about winning. It’s not about me individually, it’s about being in a good, fun situation and winning,” Ingles said.

Joe Ingles has made the move from the Magic to Minnesota – but his family is staying in Orlando. Picture: AFP

“This year even more with my family staying in Orlando for the school purpose, being here by myself and really maxing out what I can do to help this team win.

“If I’m not going to be with my family I may as well make it worthwhile. It’s a big year, an important year for me, without my family and the sacrifice my wife and I were willing to move forward to do this.”

He’ll get the perfect chance to win in Minnesota, where star guard Anthony Edwards enjoyed a breakout season to propel the young team to last year’s Western Conference Finals.

“Part of me coming here was that – that winning, competitive nature that’s here,” Ingles said.

“Hearing guys talk about where they fell short last year, and me already being home and watching these games… you can see how bad they want to win.

“Obviously they’ve got Ant who is more than likely going to be the face of the league soon, a great roster, great coaching staff.

“Combining all the things you see from afar with Rudy (Gobert) and Mike (Conley), and getting a chance to play with Ant and these guys, it’s exciting.”

Originally published as Aussies in the NBA: Matisse Thybulle opens up on Boomers’ reality check; Joe Ingles on big switch