Labaron Philon is wasting no time making his presence felt in Las Vegas.
The Philadelphia 76ers rookie guard followed up his strong Summer League debut with another big night Saturday, helping Philadelphia outlast the Indiana Pacers 100-93 in overtime. Philon finished with a game-high 24 points, along with six assists, three rebounds and one steal, and he delivered when the game tightened late.
That late-game stretch was where he separated himself. Philon knocked down key baskets in overtime and kept making the kinds of plays that swing a Summer League game. The former Alabama standout looked like a guard in command, not a rookie trying to find his footing.
At 6-foot-3, Philon showed a full offensive package against Indiana. His mid-range pull-up jumper was a problem all night, and his first step gave him enough burst to get where he wanted on the floor. Add in his footwork, and he kept creating clean looks against Pacers defenders.
What stood out just as much was the way he managed the game. Philon controlled the pace, made smart decisions with the ball and never seemed rushed. He scored from different spots on the floor and kept opening things up for teammates, which has quickly become one of the main stories for Philadelphia in Las Vegas.
This was the second straight game in which he played a major role. In his Summer League debut against the Detroit Pistons, Philon posted 18 points and seven assists, showing the confidence and playmaking that helped make him a first-round pick out of Alabama.
He looked even more comfortable against Indiana. Instead of hunting tough shots, he let the game come to him, took advantage of mismatches and delivered when the Sixers needed offense.
Philadelphia also got a strong night from Johni Broome, who added 23 points and 11 rebounds as the Sixers moved to 2-0 in Summer League play.
Summer League always comes with a grain of salt, but Philon has already shown why the 76ers were drawn to him. His scoring, court vision and competitiveness have all been on display, and through two games he looks like a young guard who could help sooner rather than later.
In Other News...
Sixers Just Made A Frontcourt Move Fans Have Been Waiting On
The 76ers added another frontcourt body on July 6, signing center Ariel Hukporti, according to a team press release. The 7-foot big man arrives after spending last season with the Knicks, where he got into 54 games and was part of their playoff rotation during a run that carried into the postseason.
For Philadelphia, the move is another look at a young center who has already logged meaningful NBA minutes after coming over from overseas and being drafted in 2024. The club did not disclose the terms of the deal, leaving the bigger question on how Hukporti fits into the Sixers frontcourt mix as they continue sorting out depth and size. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Suddenly Face A Nick Nurse Question With Labaron Philon Jr
The Sixers backcourt picture changed again with the addition of Anfernee Simons, and it puts rookie Labaron Philon Jr. in an interesting spot as training camp approaches. Philon is expected to be part of the regular rotation, and his fit matters because Philadelphia is trying to sort out how much creation, pace and ballhandling it can get from its guard group without losing too much on the other end.
Nick Nurses preferences will loom over those decisions, because the Sixers have to balance what Simons brings offensively with what Philon can offer as a young guard who already plays with a polished feel. Philons style also invites the inevitable Tyrese Maxey comparison, since both attack off the dribble and thrive on speed changes, but the bigger question for Philadelphia is how Nurse values those traits when minutes start getting carved up. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Brown Just Put The 76ers Title Push In A Tough Spot
The 76ers spent the offseason chasing a bigger ceiling, and the addition of Jaylen Brown gives them another proven scorer to slot alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. On paper, it is the kind of move that can push a contender closer to the top of the East, but it also changes the shape of the offense in a real way, because Brown has long been at his best when he can create his own looks and attack without waiting for the play to come to him.
Now Philadelphia has Brown, Embiid, Maxey and VJ Edgecombe all needing touches in the same starting group, which is where the fit gets tricky. The 76ers have already learned how awkward it can be when high-usage players are asked to shrink their roles, and Nick Nurse and his staff will have to sort through those on-ball responsibilities before the season starts if this lineup is going to work the way the front office imagined. [Read more 🡒]