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CAMDEN, N.J. -- The Philadelphia 76ers appear to have gotten the steal of the 2026 NBA draft in the form of Labaron Philon Jr. The Alabama star fell into their laps at No. 22 in the draft and will now join a dynamic group of guards led by Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe with Philon sliding in with them.
After a big sophomore leap with the Crimson Tide, the Sixers identified him as somebody who can contribute right away. In his first draft with the team, President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey was able to land another ball-handler--a need for this group--as well as a legitimate scorer for the second unit.
"He's a monster worker from Alabama," said Gansey. "He's in the gym, and he's a guy that, like, just likes to play. Maybe he's not like a workout guy, but he wants competition. He wants shooting drills. He wants to compete. He doesn't want to just shoot, to shoot. So, he was someone that, and especially in the SEC, like, he was the target for the defense. He was the top guy on the scouting report, and especially in the SEC, with all those athletes and length and the top teams in the country, like that's impressive."
To Gansey's point, Philon did shoot 50.1% from the floor and 39.9% from deep in the 2025-26 season while also getting to the line 6.0 times per game and shooting 79.8%. He is a worker on both ends of the floor, and Gansey and the Sixers were impressed that he was able to do that in one of the top conferences in college basketball in 2025-26.
"He can go get a shot anytime he wants, and have games where he's in the low 40s, and he was 50% and 39 and 80," Gansey gushed. "He was almost 50, 40, 80. That's impressive. He just can go get a bucket. He’s just a hooper, and he just wants to win, and he's competitive, and we're excited to have him, because I think the edge, the swag that he plays with, I think the people in Philly are gonna like that."
Also, the Sixers desperately needed help for Maxey and Edgecombe. The two guards had to play heavy minutes in 2025-26 with Maxey leading the league in minutes and Edgecombe tied for 10th with Knicks star Jalen Brunson. Gansey and Co. expect Philon to help in that area in a big way.
"For sure," Gansey stated. "I mean, you need as many guards as you can that can go create a shot. He’s, obviously one of the best in college, and I think for us too, like Tyrese was number one in minutes last year. VJ was up there as a rookie, I think fifth. Like, this also helps coach (Nick Nurse). He doesn't have to play those guys, you know. We need depth at that guard position. I think he can come in and play some minutes and take a load off those two, and I think he can play with Tyrese a little bit."
There is still work to be done for Philon, especially defensively, but Gansey is confident the Sixers got the right guy at No. 22. Now, the work really begins for the rookie. The time is now to get into the gym and get ready for what's to come.
"He's on the slighter side," Gansey finished. "He’s got to get stronger, but if you look at his stuff, especially his freshman year at Alabama, he really guarded, and I think this year he had to carry a huge offensive load. So, I think he took a load of a step back there, but I know it's in him. He’s got good instincts, good hands, he's tough, he'll get into people, he's competitive. We just can't have enough guards. Being in Cleveland, we need guards, because in the playoffs, it's half court. You got to go get a bucket, and I think Labaron can go get one anytime he wants."
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers' Mike Gansey details what stood out to him about Labaron Philon
Continue reading...
After a big sophomore leap with the Crimson Tide, the Sixers identified him as somebody who can contribute right away. In his first draft with the team, President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey was able to land another ball-handler--a need for this group--as well as a legitimate scorer for the second unit.
"He's a monster worker from Alabama," said Gansey. "He's in the gym, and he's a guy that, like, just likes to play. Maybe he's not like a workout guy, but he wants competition. He wants shooting drills. He wants to compete. He doesn't want to just shoot, to shoot. So, he was someone that, and especially in the SEC, like, he was the target for the defense. He was the top guy on the scouting report, and especially in the SEC, with all those athletes and length and the top teams in the country, like that's impressive."
To Gansey's point, Philon did shoot 50.1% from the floor and 39.9% from deep in the 2025-26 season while also getting to the line 6.0 times per game and shooting 79.8%. He is a worker on both ends of the floor, and Gansey and the Sixers were impressed that he was able to do that in one of the top conferences in college basketball in 2025-26.
"He can go get a shot anytime he wants, and have games where he's in the low 40s, and he was 50% and 39 and 80," Gansey gushed. "He was almost 50, 40, 80. That's impressive. He just can go get a bucket. He’s just a hooper, and he just wants to win, and he's competitive, and we're excited to have him, because I think the edge, the swag that he plays with, I think the people in Philly are gonna like that."
Also, the Sixers desperately needed help for Maxey and Edgecombe. The two guards had to play heavy minutes in 2025-26 with Maxey leading the league in minutes and Edgecombe tied for 10th with Knicks star Jalen Brunson. Gansey and Co. expect Philon to help in that area in a big way.
"For sure," Gansey stated. "I mean, you need as many guards as you can that can go create a shot. He’s, obviously one of the best in college, and I think for us too, like Tyrese was number one in minutes last year. VJ was up there as a rookie, I think fifth. Like, this also helps coach (Nick Nurse). He doesn't have to play those guys, you know. We need depth at that guard position. I think he can come in and play some minutes and take a load off those two, and I think he can play with Tyrese a little bit."
There is still work to be done for Philon, especially defensively, but Gansey is confident the Sixers got the right guy at No. 22. Now, the work really begins for the rookie. The time is now to get into the gym and get ready for what's to come.
"He's on the slighter side," Gansey finished. "He’s got to get stronger, but if you look at his stuff, especially his freshman year at Alabama, he really guarded, and I think this year he had to carry a huge offensive load. So, I think he took a load of a step back there, but I know it's in him. He’s got good instincts, good hands, he's tough, he'll get into people, he's competitive. We just can't have enough guards. Being in Cleveland, we need guards, because in the playoffs, it's half court. You got to go get a bucket, and I think Labaron can go get one anytime he wants."
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers' Mike Gansey details what stood out to him about Labaron Philon
Continue reading...
