Alabama guard adds SEC Player of the Year scoring punch to a Sixers backcourt that ran Maxey ragged last season.
The Philadelphia 76ers didn’t overthink it. With the 22nd pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, new president Mike Gansey landed Alabama guard Labaron Philon—a projected top-20 talent who slipped to the second round. Philon arrives with SEC Player of the Year hardware, averaging 22 points per game and shooting 50% from the field last season.
His polished scoring and playmaking profile fits the Sixers’ pace-and-space identity, a clear upgrade over the guard corps that forced Tyrese Maxey into heavy minutes last year. The Sixers’ backcourt logged brutal usage rates in 2025-26, with Maxey shouldering an unsustainable load. Philon’s high-IQ shot creation and secondary playmaking should ease that burden while adding a reliable third guard who can run an offense.
His ability to generate his own shot off the dribble and knock down catch-and-shoot threes aligns with Philadelphia’s need for versatile scoring from the perimeter. 22 wasn’t a surprise to evaluators who pegged him as a late-lottery talent. Gansey’s first move as Sixers president capitalized on the drop, turning a roster flaw into a value grab.
The Sixers’ front office prioritized floor spacing and ball movement, traits Philon displayed as Alabama’s primary offensive engine. Sixers brass touted Philon’s basketball IQ and professionalism during post-draft discussions. General manager VJ Edgecombe framed the pick as both a basketball and cultural fit, emphasizing Philon’s maturity and work ethic as key selling points.
Evaluators noted Philon’s defensive limitations, particularly in lateral quickness and perimeter pressure. While not a lockdown defender, his effort level and team-first approach mitigate some concerns. The Sixers’ defensive identity under coach Nick Nurse may require Philon to improve his on-ball defense to maximize his role in the rotation.
Philon’s draft-day slide stemmed from questions about his athleticism and NBA-level quickness, not his skill set. Teams with more pressing defensive needs passed on him despite his SEC Player of the Year résumé. The Sixers, who value IQ and offensive versatility over elite athleticism, saw a clear opportunity.
His selection reflects a broader trend in the 2026 draft, where polished guards with high basketball IQs were undervalued relative to their production. The Sixers’ guard depth chart now includes Philon, Maxey, and De’Anthony Melton, with Paul Watson rounding out the rotation. Melton’s defensive intensity and Watson’s athleticism provide complementary cover for Philon’s defensive shortcomings.
This balance allows Philon to focus on refining his shot and playmaking in training camp rather than forcing a defensive role he’s not yet ready for. What's next: Philon will join the Sixers’ summer league roster in Las Vegas, where he’ll test his fit alongside Maxey and incoming guard additions. Training camp competition for backcourt minutes starts in October.
His development under Nurse’s system and ability to contribute defensively will determine his early-season role. ” He added that Philon’s arrival signals a shift in the organization’s approach to roster construction, prioritizing skill over athleticism in the backcourt. Read at NewsAPI.org
Philadelphia’s guard rotation needed a high-IQ creator who could share the offensive load. Philon isn’t a superstar, but his SEC Player of the Year scoring and playmaking profile directly address the Sixers’ biggest roster flaw. Gansey turned a draft-day drop into a roster upgrade, buying low on a talent who can stabilize the backcourt and let Tyrese Maxey operate more efficiently. His fit within the Sixers’ pace-and-space system and potential to develop defensively make him a low-risk, high-upside addition in a draft where value was scarce. The pick also underscores the Sixers’ willingness to target underrated talent with clear roles, a strategy that could pay dividends if Philon’s defensive work pays off.
NewsAPI.orglibertyballers.comBy Paul HudrickJun 24, 2:35 AMen
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