PHILADELPHIA — Doc Rivers has known all season that 76ers starting wing Matisse Thybulle was not vaccinated against COVID-19. Rivers added he “encouraged [Thybulle] all year” to receive the required shot(s).
Now, Thybulle’s decision is about to negatively impact the Sixers in their first-round playoff series against the Raptors, because he is ineligible to enter Canada to play in Games 3 and 4 in Toronto. Still, Rivers said, “I’ve got to support the kid.”
“As a coach, you’ve got to be a human, too,” Rivers said following Tuesday’s practice. “It just puts you in a tough spot. … I told him I didn’t agree. But I told him I support him, and I will. And I’ll make sure, as much as I can, that his teammates support him. Tough spot for us to be in, but it is what it is.”
