Sixers land Philon Jr. as draft’s biggest steal
Alabama’s point guard fell to 22nd, and Philadelphia pounced on a playmaker who can change games.
with the 22nd overall pick. 1 assists per game as a sophomore, fell past consensus projections that placed him in the top 15. His draft-day slide ended in Philadelphia, where general manager Daryl Morey moved up to secure the guard at 22.
Scouts credit Philon with elite self-creation, a 38% three-point stroke off the dribble, and the ability to deliver pinpoint passes that generate easy looks for teammates. The selection marks the second straight year Morey has swung a late-first-round trade to land a guard with upside, following the 2025 acquisition of Jaden Springer. At 6’2”, 185 pounds, Philon lacks prototypical size for a point guard, but his 2025-26 film shows him manipulating defenses, creating space for step-back threes, and threading cross-court passes in traffic.
