LeBron James welcomed the young rookie with just his presence and size alone.
The Philadelphia 76ers' newest draft pick, Labaron Philon Jr., had his welcome to the NBA moment, at least as far as practice goes.
Philon discussed how he was getting in a defensive stance against LeBron James, who was running downhill towards him, and then the realization set in. This is the NBA, and it’s going to get harder when the season actually starts. Philon raved about the competitiveness of his new teammates and that it sparked something within him to be better and bring that same kind of energy.
“Everybody’s just going at each other. I feel like that’s the only way we can sharpen each other’s iron," said Philon. I feel like that connection is going to get us better as a whole.”
Philon was drafted No. 22, and he will be a key contributor to this team, so for him to already feel the pressures of who is playing with could be a good thing. Philon is going to be utilized for his ability to score and for his length. So, to go against someone like James, it’s a huge step in helping his development. What he can learn from James could be helpful, especially if he’s going to assume the role of the point guard at some point during his 76ers’ career.
In college, Philon was a phenomenal scorer for the Alabama Crimson Tide. In his sophomore year, he scored 725 points and helped lead the Crimson Tide to the Sweet 16. It’s because of that type of performance that Philon was chosen by the 76ers. You can’t forget about his playmaking ability, something that was on full display during the summer league. Averaging those five assists in his short stint made everyone realize what a steal he was for them.
Now that he’s made it to training camp and has seen who is standing next to him, it’s given him a load of confidence. Not only that, but playing with the likes of Joel Embiid has its advantages as well. While he may not share the floor with him for long stretches, there’s so much that he can learn from the former MVP.
Philon is going to be a defensive specialist; he’s a little rough around the edges, but the talent is there. Which is why he's putting an emphasis on learning the intricacies of this 76ers defense. His comments on how Embiid is a force just go to show how he’s absorbing everything around him and using what he learns to improve his game. Even head coach Nick Nurse sees the potential and wants to do everything he can to bring it out of him.
His youthful energy is a boost to this team, and it will be beneficial when it matters the most; it’s just going to be a matter of time.
