Overview
- The Philadelphia 76ers used the No. 22 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to select Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr., who slid from many mock-draft lottery projections.
- The team formally introduced Philon at a press conference on June 25, where the organization framed him as a rookie who can lead the second unit and relieve heavy backcourt minutes.
- President Mike Gansey and coach Nick Nurse said the team may deploy occasional three-guard small-ball lineups with Philon, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe in certain matchups, but they stressed defensive matchups will limit those minutes.
- Philon averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds for Alabama in 2025–26 with shooting splits of .501/.399/.798, and he calls himself a defensive “ball hawk,” though his NBA defensive consistency and physical fit remain open questions.
- Keeping and drafting at No. 22 reflects a change from the Morey era’s trade-first approach, and the pick could shift rotations and minutes allocation depending on Quentin Grimes’ free-agent decision and how quickly Philon adapts.