Dwight Howard is having a big influence on Matisse Thybulle, Sixers
The Philadelphia 76ers acquired Dwight Howard in free agency expecting him to provide some good bench play behind big man Joel Embiid. He has done that averaging 5.7 points and 4.7 rebounds off the bench, but he brings something a little more valuable that can’t be measured by numbers.
Howard has tailored a Hall of Fame career being named an All-Star eight times, named Defensive Player of the Year three times, and he has led the league blocks twice. He also is coming off a season where he won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers and that type of resume brings immediate respect to the Sixers.
“He’s such a great example for just work ethic and how to have longevity in this game,” said Matisse Thybulle. “He’s been doing it for a long time, almost as long as some of us have been alive. Just to see what he’s continuing to do, I think in year 17, just kind of lays out the blueprints for what us young guys can do and take from and adopt into our own routines and habits.”
Howard’s work behind the scenes in Philadelphia has been invaluable. He has continued to take a lot of the team’s younger players back out on the court after wins to continue to put some work in and Thybulle was one of those guys on Saturday after their win.
“He’s just been an example for us in terms of how you have a long career and that obviously shows up in work ethic,” Thybulle added. “I think just having the cameras around after games just shows it to other people but, and we see it every day here.”
Howard has been praised in the past for having an elite work ethic and that has clearly rubbed off on the rest of the Sixers. He continues to be an underrated addition to the Sixers on and off the floor who will prove very valuable come playoff time.
