The 76ers coach is eyeing a versatile playmaker. Labaron Philon Jr.'s elite efficiency and rhythmic scoring offer the backcourt depth Philadelphia needs to keep their offense dangerous and disruptive.
Nick Nurse did not need to say too much for the message to be clear.
After the Philadelphia 76ers selected Labaron Philon Jr. with the No. 22 pick, Nurse’s early comments, shared by SportsRadioWIP, pointed toward real intrigue. The championship-winning coach called Philon a "really talented scorer" who had the swagger and confidence that could alter a franchise.
Philon is not a perfect prospect, but he brings the kind of guard skill Philadelphia needed to add: scoring feel, pace, defensive activity, and enough creation upside to grow into a useful rotation piece.
At Alabama, Philon became one of the most productive guards in college basketball. As a sophomore, he averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 50.1 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from three. Those numbers show efficiency, growth, and a player who learned how to control a game with the ball in his hands.
The most translatable part of Philon’s offensive game may be his rhythm.
He is not just a straight-line driver. Philon plays with a stop-and-start style that can bother defenders because he rarely attacks at one speed. He can hesitate, change direction, slow a defender down, and then burst into space. That kind of pace matters in the NBA, where guards often have to create advantages without overwhelming size or elite acceleration.
Philon also has a deeper scoring arsenal than a typical late-first-round guard. He can get downhill, finish with touch, pull up in the midrange, and punish defenders when they go under screens. His improvement as a three-point shooter at Alabama makes the fit more interesting for Philadelphia because he should not need the ball every possession to be useful. He can operate as a secondary creator, attack rotating defenses, and help keep the offense organized when Tyrese Maxey is off the floor.
His defense is also a positive asset.
As a freshman, Philon flashed quick hands, anticipation, and competitiveness at the point of attack. He averaged 1.4 steals that season and showed the ability to pressure ball handlers without relying only on gambling. His movement skills and instincts give him a chance to become a disruptive guard defender, especially if he adds strength.
That is the biggest concern.
Philon is still thin for an NBA guard. NBA.com listed him at 6-foot-3 and 176 pounds, and that frame could make it harder for him to absorb contact, defend stronger guards, and survive switches early in his career. Philadelphia already has enough injury and durability concerns on its roster, so his physical development will be very important.
Still, that is the main question. The talent is there. The production is there. The pace, craft, and defensive flashes are there, Philon looks like. a strong guard that will improve the team on both ends of the court.
