76ers rookie Labaron Philon Jr. discusses shot improvements in college
· Yahoo Sports
CAMDEN, N.J. -- The Philadelphia 76ers made their first move of the 2026 offseason in an effort to dethrone the defending champion New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference. That move came in the form of rookie guard Labaron Philon Jr. who the Sixers selected with the No. 22 pick in the draft.
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Philon is a strong guard who can do so many different things on the floor offensively. He averaged 22.0 points and 5.0 assists as he has a scorer's mentality that should help this team's bench unit. The Sixers have needed a stabilizer for that group from the perimeter and Philon projects to fill that role in a big way.
The biggest thing that stands out about Philon is his noticeable shot improvement. He shot only 31.5% from deep on 3.2 attempts as a freshman before returning to Alabama and improving that number to 39.9% on 6.4 attempts as a sophomore. The volume and percentage is a big jump for him as he wanted to expand his game.
"I would say definitely the production at Alabama, it was very important for me to go back and work on the shooting," Philon stated. "The off-ball shooting and being able to play on and off the ball. Not really having a preference of what to do and being able to adapt to any situation they put me in and being able to play basketball, I feel like for me, that’s one of my biggest traits as well. Being able to adapt and do both. So, really it’s just working on that outside shooting and getting stronger and working on the things that I feel like are going to take my game to the next level."
In a collegiate landscape where players switch schools every offseason with the emergence of NIL and such, Philon stayed at Alabama. A native of Mobile, AL, it was important for him to stay there and keep working with coach Nate Oats and assistant coach Preston Murphy. Loyalty is a big aspect to Philon as he looks to grow as a person and a player.
"Definitely the coaching staff at Alabama, the whole program, they wanted me to come back and they didn’t want me to rush things," Philon stated. "So, really just putting my career in their hands and really just trusting that they would get me better every day. When I first got back, that was the only thing we focused on. Everybody in the program, all the coaches, and we focused on me just getting better."
Being challenged is the best way to get better and that is what happened with Philon. Oats and Murphy didn't hand anything to him. He had to work and scratch and claw for everything he earned with the Crimson Tide. Things like that stick with young players and that's why Philon is thankful for his time at Alabama and his time with the coaches.
"I feel like once you surround yourself with those types of people, you really see yourself grow and expand in that way, I give all my praise to coach Preston and coach Oats," Philon finished. "Just being able to take me in and not just give me what I wanted. Making me work for things and I feel like it should be no different here. Just expecting that with not handed anything and being able to work for the things you want."
Philon will now turn his attention to the summer league as he prepares to help the Sixers in his maiden season in the NBA.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: 76ers rookie Labaron Philon Jr. discusses shot improvements in college