76ers Rookie Is Already Winning Over His Veteran Teammates

The rookie has started to gain the respect of some of the veterans on the team. The Philadelphia 76ers drafted Labaron Philon Jr. to give the 76ers some relief in the playmaking department. 

Last season, the 76ers were struggling when it came to playmaking. After James Haerden was traded away, the duties fell on Tyrese Maxey. Now, Maxey had a phenomenal season and led the team in points. But most of the scoring came from creating for himself as opposed to creating for others, enter Philon Jr.

The former Alabama Crimson Tide is expected to help fill that role. The first step to that is work ethic. According to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Philon has been doing everything he can to get better and be a player that everyone, including the veterans, can depend on. Caldwell-Pope has extensive insight into Philon as both play in the second unit. Caldwell-Pope details that Philon will go to all the veterans without hesitation to understand something. 

Throughout the preseason, there have been glimpses of what the 76ers saw in Philon Jr. He’s struggled shooting the ball, but he can still be the creator that they need him to be. His time won’t be right now because there are so many all-stars on this team, but he will be an integral part of the future of the 76ers.

But in order for that to happen, he has to put in the work now. While it is certain that he is the future, there’s a chance he could get some of that experience now. This team has been discussed as too heavily reliant on the starters. That could be the opening that he needs to show what he can truly do. 

With such a distrust among the center depth, it’s going to create different lineups.  In those lineups, Philon will most likely handle the point guard duties, and that’s going to be his time to shine. It’s going to take more than scoring; he has to do what they drafted him to be, their facilitator. When Harden was on this team, he made sure to involve everyone else before scoring, and that’s going to be Philon’s mindset whenever he steps on the court. 

So while Caldwell-Pope’s high praises bring optimism, there has to be results that prove his words to be true. The bright spot in all of this is that this season will be his learning curve. After all, he is playing alongside one of the greatest players to ever in LeBron James. If he can soak in everything in front of him and use that to be the best he can be in hopes of achieving everything the 76ers want.