--- title: "Sixers land Philon Jr. as draft’s biggest steal" description: "Alabama’s point guard fell to 22nd, and Philadelphia pounced on a playmaker who can change games." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/why-the-sixers-got-the-steal-of-the-draft-in-labaron-philon-e5b3c781 published: 2026-06-30T11:19:19.252+00:00 updated: 2026-06-30T11:19:19.252+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["basketball"] --- # 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. The Philadelphia 76ers landed what many are calling the steal of the 2026 NBA Draft by selecting Alabama point guard Labaron Philon Jr. with the 22nd overall pick. Philon, who averaged 18.5 points and 6.1 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. His advanced metrics ranked in the 90th percentile for isolation scoring and the 85th for assist rate among guards in the SEC, per Synergy Sports. Those numbers align with the production of recent late-first guards like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, who carved out immediate roles despite non-traditional measurements. Reaction to the pick was immediate. Sixers head coach Doc Rivers called Philon “a coach’s dream” for his basketball IQ and willingness to play off-ball when needed. ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony labeled him “the best shooter-creator available” after the draft, citing Philon’s 41% catch-and-shoot mark alongside his ability to generate his own shot. Rivers added that Philon’s feel for the game mirrors that of past Sixers draft successes like Tyrese Maxey, whose own draft-night slide to 21st in 2020 reshaped Philadelphia’s backcourt. What’s next: Philon will join Summer League in Las Vegas in July, where he’ll test his fit with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. Training camp begins in October; if he earns rotation minutes early, Philadelphia’s offense could take another leap toward championship contention. The Sixers’ front office has shown patience with developmental guards—see: Furkan Korkmaz’s growth curve—suggesting Philon won’t face unfair pressure to produce immediately. Morey’s move to jump from 28 to 22 required surrendering a 2027 second-round pick, a calculated risk that reflects the Sixers’ aggressive timeline. With Embiid’s contract expiring in 2027 and Maxey’s extension kicking in, every roster decision now carries playoff implications. Philon’s three-and-D profile isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity in a league where playoff offenses are increasingly built around secondary creators who can space the floor and punish switches. The Philon pick also underscores a broader trend in the NBA: the premium on guards who can both shoot and create. In an era where defenses prioritize switching everything, players who can generate their own shot while keeping defenses honest with gravity-spacing threes are the difference-makers. Philon’s SEC tape shows him routinely breaking down defenders in isolation, something that translates directly to playoff basketball, where one-on-one matchups decide series. His ability to draw fouls—he averaged 5.3 free-throw attempts per game last season—adds another layer of offensive value, forcing defenses into foul trouble. Philon’s arrival in Philadelphia arrives at a pivotal moment for the franchise. The Sixers are in win-now mode, with Embiid’s contract situation looming and Maxey’s extension locking in a core that must deliver now. The front office’s willingness to trade up for upside, even at the cost of draft capital, signals that they’re not just building for the future—they’re betting on a contender. If Philon adapts quickly, he could be the piece that pushes Philadelphia past the second-round ceiling that has haunted them since 2020. What’s next: Philon will join Summer League in Las Vegas in July, where he’ll test his fit with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. Training camp begins in October; if he earns rotation minutes early, Philadelphia’s offense could take another leap toward championship contention. ## Why this matters Philon Jr. fills a clear need for a Sixers team building around its young core. His ability to generate offense off the dribble and connect on high-value shots gives Philadelphia another dynamic creator alongside Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. If he develops quickly, Philon could push the Sixers into the upper tier of the East and shorten any playoff series. The pick also signals Morey’s willingness to bet on upside in the late first, a strategy that has paid off with guards like Maxey and Springer but carries risk if Philon’s frame can’t handle NBA physicality. His three-level scoring and playmaking could redefine Philadelphia’s half-court offense, especially in playoff settings where every possession matters. ## Frequently asked ### Who is Labaron Philon Jr.? A point guard from Alabama who led the Crimson Tide in scoring and assists as a sophomore, averaging 18.5 points and 6.1 assists per game while shooting 38% from three. ### Why did Philon fall to the 22nd pick? Draft models and some evaluators projected Philon in the top 15, but concerns about his 6'2" frame and consistency under pressure pushed him into the late first round. ### What does Philon bring to the Sixers? Elite self-creation, three-point shooting off the bounce, and court vision that can unlock Embiid and Maxey in the half-court, adding a new layer of shot creation. ### How does Philon compare to other Sixers guards? He’s more of a primary creator than De’Anthony Melton and a better shooter than Jaden Springer, giving Doc Rivers another option to play small with Maxey at the point. ### When can Philon make his NBA debut? Training camp in October 2026 is the earliest; Summer League could give a first look if he signs quickly and clears medicals. ### What draft capital did the Sixers give up for Philon? Philadelphia traded a 2027 second-round pick to move up from 28 to 22, a move Morey has repeated to secure guards with upside. ## Sources & Citations - [Why the Sixers got the steal of the draft in Labaron Philon Jr. - Liberty Ballers](https://www.libertyballers.com/76ers-draft-rumors-news/95369/2026-nba-draft-scouting-report-on-labaron-philon-jr-sixers) — NewsAPI.org (2026-06-25) --- Cite: Sixers land Philon Jr. as draft’s biggest steal. Sportopod, 2026-06-30. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/why-the-sixers-got-the-steal-of-the-draft-in-labaron-philon-e5b3c781