Former Washington Huskies star Matisse Thybulle’s NBA journey will continue after the two-time Second Team All-Defense honoree signed a one-year, $3.3 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday afternoon.
Over his first seven seasons between the Philadelphia 76ers and Portland Trail Blazers, the forward has averaged 5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. However, recently, he’s been limited by injuries and has played in just 45 games across the last two seasons.
Despite the injuries, he has still put together a reputation as one of the NBA’s best 3-and-D players when healthy, shooting 41 percent from three-point range over the last two years, and according to ESPN, he led the league in steals and deflections per 36 minutes among players who played in at least 20 games during the 2025-26 campaign.
Free agent forward Matisse Thybulle has agreed on one-year, $3.3 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/h1JCsx1e6h
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 20, 2026
According to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, the signing came after Thybulle spoke with coach JJ Redick and guard Luka Doncic about the opportunity, as the Lakers attempt to build a new roster around their superstar after LeBron James chose to leave the team in free agency, and the two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year was an important target.
“The Lakers also discussed sign-and-trade scenarios with the Trail Blazers, which would have enabled Thybulle to earn a higher salary, but the sides could not reach a deal,” Charania reported.
During his time at Washington, Thybulle set a program record with 331 steals in his career, highlighted by another program record with 126 during his final season in 2019.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Former Washington star signs one-year deal with Los Angeles Lakers
