The ACC/SEC Challenge matchups have quickly become some of the most anticipated games on the college basketball calendar. This year's slate once again features several high-profile programs going head-to-head in important early-season tests. With intriguing storylines, talented rosters, and plenty of national implications, a few games stand above the rest. Here are the three must-watch matchups in the 2026 ACC/SEC Challenge.
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats reacts in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines during a Sweet Sixteen game of the Midwest Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
Despite losing their top scorer, Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama head coach Nate Oats has reloaded his roster by retaining key pieces and targeting the transfer portal. After testing NBA waters, Amari Allen felt it was best to return to Alabama. This is massive for the Crimson Tide as they return one of the nation's better defenders. Allen was tasked with the toughest ****** ignments game after game. The expectations will be high for him. This is similar to Philon Jr., who, in his first year, was great and turned into a phenomenal scorer. Philon led the Crimson Tide in scoring last season.
Alongside Allen's return, Oats has also brought in a talented freshman class that could make an immediate impact for the Crimson Tide. The first of the group is five-star McDonald's All-American Jaxon Richardson. The six-foot-six wing is known to be one of the most athletic and bouncy freshmen in the class. Richardson does a great job of running the floor, creating easy transition points for himself. This is a perfect match for Oats, who likes to play fast on offense.
Richardson moves exceptionally without the ball, showing that he does not need the ball in his hands to make an immediate impact. Richardson can make a major impact on the glass, consistently creating second-chance opportunities by securing offensive rebounds and finishing putbacks. Defensively, his long wingspan and high motor allow him to contest shots, protect the rim, and bring consistent energy.

#oats #richardson #philon

76ers' Tyrese Maxey spotted working out with Pacers' star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Tyrese Maxey went into the offseason off of what has been one of the more impressive seasons in his career, putting up career-highs with 28.3 points per game, as well as 6.6 ***** ists, showing that he still has a lot left in his bag to use on the court. There's a case to be made that the 25-year-old's incredulous work ethic has made these improvements possible, and all of that really kicks into high gear during the offseason.
The last few months have been an example of Maxey's work rate despite not taking place during the season, as he's been in the gym constantly, working with some new teammates, including Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, or more recently, taking some time with the younger members of the Philadelphia 76ers, VJ Edgecombe and Labaron Philon Jr.
Yet a gym session didn't include a teammate, but rather a conference rival: Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Both of the former all-stars were seen in the gym together, having been working out with skills trainer Drew Hanlen, with one of the shots of the two seeing them face off, with the Sixers' star taking the lead with the rock.

#made

Multiple 76ers spotted playing in annual Rico Hines Runs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The NBA offseason is starting to enter its final stages as players and teams around the league will start to get ready for the campaign to come. This is certainly the case for the Philadelphia 76ers, who are going into a preseason camp with a plethora of new faces, whether it was the blockbuster trade acquisition, Jaylen Brown, another marquee signing in LeBron James, or their first-round pick, LaBaron Philon Jr.
The latter of the aforementioned trio was spotted during an off-season pick-up game at the annual Rico Hines Runs, as reported by ESPN's Dave McMenamin. Hines has been an ***** istant coach with the Sixers for several seasons at this point, and his scrimmages have become a staple of the offseason for that time period.
Given that Hines is a member of Philadelphia's coaching staff, it's no surprise that there were multiple other members of the Sixers, as V.J. Edgecombe, Adem Bona, Dominick Barlow, and Caleb Love were all spotted in the gym. Edgecombe went into the offseason off a fiery rookie campaign in the NBA, averaging 16 points and 4.2 ***** ists, while Barlow and Bona managed to carve a sizable role into Nick Nurse's system throughout the season.
Something to point out about Edgecombe is that this isn't his first on-court action in the offseason, given that he was a part of the Bahamian National Team during a recent run of FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in early July.

#offseason #spotted #runs

With the offseason continuing to dwindle down as the calendar is now turned to August, now is the time for players to really begin getting some final work in and whatever relaxation days they want to use. The real work will begin at the end of September when training camp begins.
For Philadelphia 76ers rookie Labaron Philon Jr., the No. 22 overall pick is using his final offseason days to play in some pickup runs with fellow rookie, Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors.
Philon and Lendeborg were filmed playing in some pickup runs in Pennsauken, NJ. Lendeborg went to Pennsauken High School before heading off to college. Lendeborg's Michigan Wolverines knocked off Philon's Alabama Crimson Tide in the Sweet 16 by a score of 90-77. Philon did score 35 points in the matchup.
While Philon waited to hear his name called until No. 22 with the Sixers, Lendeborg was selected by the Warriors at No. 11. It will be interesting to see when the first real NBA matchup between the two will be when the league releases the schedule.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers' Labaron Philon Jr. plays pickup with Warriors' Yaxel Lendeborg

#lendeborg #pennsauken #begin

The Philadelphia 76ers are looking like a much different team as they head into the 2026-27 season. New President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey looks to build a strong roster around the team's talented core. The Sixers have been unable to get over the hump in the past, but Gansey and Co. have made steps towards fixing that problem.
The Sixers began the offseason by selecting Labaron Philon Jr. with the No. 22 overall pick and then went out and brought in Dean Wade, Ariel Hukporti, and Anfernee Simons in free agency. Then, the Sixers swung for the fences with the blockbuster trade to bring in Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics. Then they landed the biggest name in free agency in LeBron James before landing a deal with 2-time champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as another depth piece.
Here's an updated look at the depth chart for the Sixers as they move forward:
Starter: Tyrese Maxey
Depth chart: Labaron Philon Jr., Anfernee Simons, Caleb Love (two-way)

#depth #chart

On Friday, the basketball world was sent into a frenzy with the news that NBA free agent LeBron James was signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
Among the greatest players in NBA history, James' reported signing is one that immediately put the spotlight on the Sixers' projected 2026-27 roster. On that roster is a name familiar to Alabama basketball fans in Labaron Philon Jr., a former Crimson Tide guard whom Philadelphia recently selected in the first round of the 2026 NBA draft.
Set to enter his rookie season this upcoming fall, Philon will now look to make an impact for a Philadelphia team that is likely to be among the preseason favorites to win a NBA ****** le this upcoming season. However, just how big of an impact could that be, and did Philadelphia's reported signing of James change that in any way?
Prior to the Sixers' signing of James, Philon projected as Philadelphia's backup point guard, and that role will likely not change following Friday's reported news. Philon will be the backup to starter Tyrese Maxey.
However, what does remain a question is just how much minutes Philon sees a game, as the former Alabama star is set to join a loaded Sixers backcourt. Not only is Philon behind Maxey, a two-time All-Star and 25+ points per game scorer, on the depth chart, but Philadelphia also has VJ Edgecombe and Anfernee Simons, though both are likely to see a majority of action at the two-guard.

#james #sixers #likely

In case one has missed it, LeBron James is now a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. He will be joining a roster with Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe. Jaylen Brown, and Joel Embiid already featured while also having some serious depth with Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, Labaron Philon Jr., and others. This is a roster as talented as any in the Eastern Conference.
The Sixers got James on a 2-year $8 million deal as they only had so much money left to spend in free agency. After playing the waiting game to make it work and bring him in on a deal, the Sixers were able to come out as the big winners of the offseason, if they weren't already.
In terms of the details of his contract, Spotrac has the details on his deal that includes a player option for the 2027-28 season.
The Sixers will be looking to reach the mountaintop and win their first championship since 1983 following the busy offseason and will look to move forward with the future Hall of Famer on the roster.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Details of LeBron James' contract with the Philadelphia 76ers revealed

#offseason #contract

The Philadelphia 76ers have had a busy offseason with the additions they made in free agency and in the trade market. President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey has been working hard to build a roster that can compete for a championship and look to make the big leap in the Eastern Conference.
The Sixers, obviously, swung the big deal to acquire Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in exchange for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks, but they also signed Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, and Ariel Hukporti in free agency. They also selected Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. with the No. 22 pick in the draft to add to the roster.
ESPN graded each team's offseason and gave the Sixers an A- grade:
Regardless of Jaylen Brown's precise value, turning 36-year-old Paul George into a 29-year-old All-NBA wing is a big win for Philadelphia. The forward positions have long been a concern for the 76ers, but they're on much firmer ground now with Brown and Dean Wade, and Brown is specifically a strong fit next to Joel Embiid because of his reliability.
The 76ers' roster isn't perfect -- it lacks some shooting and is still too reliant on Embiid for its size -- but Philadelphia at least has a narrow path to the Finals now, when such a route didn't exist before this summer.

#philadelphia #roster #george

The summer league has ended for the Philadelphia 76ers after they finished 2-3 out in Las Vegas. They won their first two games, but then ended on a 3-game skid. However, wins and losses do not matter out in Vegas. It's all about how the young players look and how they can adjust to the NBA game after to prepare for what's to come.
Sixers rookie guard Labaron Philon Jr. had some big moments in the summer league as he showed off his skills. He averaged 18.5 points, 5.8 ****** ists, and 3.5 rebounds along with 1.5 steals in four games. He put all of his skills on display and should be able to bring that talent to the league when the regular season begins in October.
Here are the three biggest observations on Philon while at the summer league:
Philon showed the capability to be able to put the ball in the basket. His percentages weren't great, he shot 38.2% overall and 25.8% from deep, but that can be attributed to being the main threat on the floor and teams swarming him whenever he crossed halfcourt. He also was shooting a respectable 39% from deep before a 1-for-13 showing in his final outing on July 15. There were plenty of times when he was blitzed and had to quickly adjust to how teams were defending him. Even with the extra attention, Philon was able to get into the paint, give the summer Sixers somebody who could make plays for others, and was able to make his presence known. It was a solid showing and should give the team some optimism about adding a 3-level scorer to the bench unit.
Over the four games in Vegas, Philon compiled 23 ****** ists against 10 turnovers in the four games he played. He had four turnovers in the finale against the Magic, but fatigue could have been a factor. He played 36:35 in that one on the second day of a back-to-back and he averaged 32 minutes in the summer league. He had seven ****** ists in the opener against the Detroit Pistons, six against the Indiana Pacers, four against the Houston Rockets, and six against the Magic. He was able to make plays for others, was directing traffic, and showed a lot of confidence for a rookie. The Sixers should be happy with what they saw.

#league #four #assists

The NBA summer league is all about opportunity. It's important for everybody to get their chances in Las Vegas to show off their skill and earn a chance to play this game at a professional level.
For the Philadelphia 76ers, their main focus was on rookie Labaron Philon Jr. and second-year big man Johni Broome, but an undrafted guard showed what he could do and cashed in on his time in Vegas.
Dante Maddox Jr., undrafted out of Xavier, will sign with Olimpia Milano in Italy. He averaged 15.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.0 ****** ists while shooting 35.5% from deep. He showed off his knack for scoring the ball and being able to knock down the 3-pointer on high volume for the Sixers while in Las Vegas.
Maddox played for Cal State Fullerton, Toledo, and Xavier during his collegiate career. He shot 40.3% from deep on 4.0 attempts across 140 games with 81 starts. He will now look to carry that production overseas and take advantage of his new opportunity.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers summer league standout signs to play professionally overseas

#vegas #maddox #xavier #summer

LAS VEGAS -- Through two games of the summer league, Philadelphia 76ers rookie Labaron Philon Jr. is making things happen. The No. 22 overall pick in the draft is averaging 21.0 points and 6.5 ***** ists while shooting 40% from deep on 7.5 attempts. He has shown no signs of being a rookie as he has played with a ton of poise and confidence as a young player.
Philon had 24 points in Saturday's summer league overtime win over the Indiana Pacers and made some big plays in the extra session and in big moments. It was another strong showing after scoring 18 points in the win over the Detroit Pistons.
"I'm a very confident player, I would say," Philon smiled. "Being able to get into the lane, being able to spread out, get into the lane, make some open 3s, and just being able to compete on the other side of the ball. I feel like that's an important thing as well."
Philon is also averaging 3.0 rebounds per game in the summer league. That's another factor that he wants to add to his game and help him earn his spot in the rotation and help the Sixers move forward. It's obvious that he has a good head on his shoulders and is looking to give Philadelphia some real production.
"Being able to go get those extra rebounds," Philon finished. "When the bigs are boxing out. That can take it a long way. Being able to just get five or seven rebounds as a guard. I feel like that's a big thing."

76ers rookie Labaron Philon making early statement in Summer League originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Philadelphia 76ers rookie guard Labaron Philon continued his impressive start to NBA Summer League, delivering another standout performance Saturday night to lead the Sixers to a 100-93 overtime victory over the Indiana Pacers.
Philon took control when the game mattered most, scoring timely baskets in overtime and making several clutch plays down the stretch. The former Alabama star finished with a game-high 24 points, six ***** ists, three rebounds and one steal, further strengthening his case as one of the breakout performers of Summer League.
The 6-foot-3 point guard showcased an advanced offensive ***** nal throughout the contest. His mid-range pull-up jumper repeatedly proved nearly impossible to defend, while his explosive first step and polished footwork consistently allowed him to create ***** e against Indiana's defenders.
Philon displayed the poise of a seasoned floor general, controlling the tempo while making smart decisions with the basketball. His ability to score from multiple levels and create opportunities for teammates has quickly become one of Philadelphia's biggest storylines in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS -- The Philadelphia 76ers have had a busy offseason as President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey has been aggressive in terms of being able to build a roster around the team's stars.
Gansey and the front office were active in free agency with the additions of Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, and Ariel Hukporti before pulling the trigger on the big Jaylen Brown acquisition. The free agent additions won't get the fanfare that the Brown trade has received, but all of those additions will help.
Specifically, Simons will give coach Nick Nurse a reliable ball-handler and scorer off the bench that he can turn to and take some pressure off Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe in terms of the workload.
"I mean, I think it's really important for us both him and (Labaron) Philon," said Nurse. "I think both of them are handlers that can play some pick-and-roll and score the ball. Both of them are super athletes. Like, to me, if you've got that athleticism, which both of them do, you can impact defensively too, right? So, again, I think just shifts. It seems like we got a lot faster, a lot more athletic. Yeah, there's some other issues. We might be a touch small at times and things like whatever, but I certainly take the speed and athleticism. Then it's just up to our staff to get these guys put them in the right spot."
To Nurse's point, the Sixers have certainly gotten smaller. Maxey is 6-foot-2, Philon is 6-foot-3, Edgecombe is 6-foot-4, and Simons is 6-foot-3. There will be times when Philadelphia will struggle both defensively and on the glass, but Nurse is excited about the potential of this group. Simons, especially, brings a big scoring ability off the bench that will give the Sixers a different look than in the past.

Just a couple seasons ago, Labaron Philon Jr. and Johni Broome were foes as Alabama faced Auburn in the Iron Bowl of basketball.
Now, the two are teammates.
Broome has been with the Philadelphia 76ers since he was drafted 35th overall last year, but Philon became the organization's latest rookie addition as the 22nd overall pick in June.
The unlikely duo fed off of each other in Philon's NBA Summer League debut. As the man from Mobile dropped 18 points and dished out a team-best seven **** ists, Broome came through with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
In the aftermath of the 101-93 win over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, July 9, an unexpected reporter squeezed his way into Broome's media scrum.

The Philadelphia 76ers will continue the summer league when they take on the Indiana Pacers, and if you're wondering how you can watch all the action live, you've come to the right place. The Sixers will look to continue building their younger players and help them get ready for what's to come in the 2026-27 season.
Rookie guard Labaron Philon Jr. will look to build off his strong start to the summer league when he takes on the Pacers. Philon put up a big effort in Philadelphia's summer league opening win over the Detroit Pistons as he knocked down big shots late in the game to seal the win and really make a strong impression on everybody in the front office and on the roster. Now, he must follow it up and keep things moving in the right direction.
Here's when and where you should tune in to see the matchup:
Date: Saturday, July 11
Time: 5:30 p.m. EDT

Labaron Philon Jr. is pleased to have an impressive performance on his Summer League debut originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Labaron Philon Jr. was selected with the 22nd overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. While many draft experts believed he would go earlier, the Philadelphia 76ers have capitalized on those teams not selecting him.
In his first NBA Summer League game, he helped the 76ers beat the Detroit Pistons 101-93. In his debut game, Philon scored 18 points and dished out seven ******* ists. It might not have been the most efficient game, but he showed why he is a long-term piece in Philly.
Philon has always been hailed as a player with a high offensive ceiling. He is showcasing that his perimeter shooting can be relied upon by the 76ers. In the upcoming 2026-27 season, he will be a 20-year-old rookie, but he wants to be a contributor.
Thankfully, he will have some good mentors, including Tyrese Maxey and former NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown. He could even play alongside them when needed, as he will be ready to keep shooting when the ball is given to him.

Las Vegas — The Detroit Pistons began their five-game Summer League schedule with a 101-91 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night at ***** Pavilion in Las Vegas.
Isaac Jones led the Pistons with 22 points, five rebounds, and two blocks. He tied the game at 85 with a layup at the 3:56 mark of the fourth quarter. However, on the 76ers' next offensive possession, rookie guard Labaron Philon scored an And-1 basket, giving Philadelphia the momentum they needed to close out the game. Philon scored 18 points.
Rookie guard Ebuka Okorie had a solid debut for the Pistons, finishing with 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting with two made triples. He scored nine points in the third quarter alone.
This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.
coty.davisdetroitnews.com

The Philadelphia 76ers began summer league play on Thursday when they took on the Detroit Pistons in Las Vegas. It offered up the first opportunity for them to see what they have in their younger pieces in a competitive setting. They have been practicing all week, and now is the time to get in an actual game.
The summer Sixers began with a 101-93 win over the Pistons at The Pavilion. There were some sloppy moments, as there always are in the summer league, but the Sixers have to be happy with what they saw from the young players in the summer league opener.
Rookie guard Labaron Philon Jr. finished with 18 points and seven **** ists while Johni Broome had 19 points and 13 rebounds. Isaac Johnson had 20 points off the bench and Dante Maddox Jr. had 21 points while Amani Lyles had 11 points.
Here are the player grades following the win:
Welcome to the league, Mr. Philon. The No. 22 overall pick went to work early as he knocked down his first three triples on the night. He had the ball on a string, too, as he really showed off his handles when pressured by Detroit’s guards. The shooting tailed off after the hot start, but his ability to get into the paint and make things happen either by finishing at the basket or making a play for a teammate was impressive in this one. The Sixers have to be happy with what they saw in this one. He will challenge Tyrese Maxey for having the best handles on the team. There is a lot of work to do, but Philon showed off a lot of his game in this one.

The Boston Celtics believed Jaylen Brown would've been untradeable after his next contract extension, per WindhorstESPN "In the case of Jaylen Brown, the Celtics believed that Jaylen Brown was going to be seeking a contract extension this summer. And if they gave him that extension, not only did they think they weren't getting $57M value, but then he'd become untradeable "
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Paul also noted that as much as winning matters at James' next destination, the conversations are about "everything" and are "deeper than the average person would think about." Paul, who's had a relationship with James for 25 years, didn't elaborate but admitted that Philadelphia's acquisition of Jaylen Brown is a "great thing" that could help James choose the Sixers. Paul also has ties to Philadelphia, serving as the agent for Sixers star Tyrese Maxey and former point guard Ben Simmons through Klutch Sports Group. — 7/9/2026 New York Times
Bob Myers didn't mind laying out a case for the Sixers, who feel they've seriously strengthened their team by trading for Jaylen Brown. They've also drafted Labaron Philon Jr. and signed Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons and Ariel Hukporti. "When you're talking about the Sixers, if he was here I'd say, 'I honestly believe this is your best chance to win. You have to decide all the other things that are equally important.' It's his life, right? He has to play. He has to face the scrutiny of his decision," Myers said. "Half the people will say, 'You should've done this' or 'You should've done that' and criticize him for whatever. It's his life; he's been through all that. What I would just say is, 'If it's about winning, let's talk about this team, because you can win here in Philadelphia.'" — 7/8/2026 NBC Sports Philadelphia

With the summer league beginning on Thursday for the Philadelphia 76ers, now is the time for President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey and the rest of the front office to get everything in order. The Sixers recently announced their summer league roster, which will be led by rookie guard Labaron Philon Jr., and will also get a look at an undrafted guard.
On Tuesday night, the Sixers announced that they have signed Duke Miles to an Exhibit 10 deal. After going undrafted out of Vanderbilt, Miles averaged 16.1 points, 4.5 ******* ists, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.6 steals during his one season with the Commodores. He also played for Troy, High Point, and Oklahoma in his collegiate career.
Miles shot 34.8% from deep in the 2025-26 season and will now look to make a name for himself with the Sixers in Las Vegas. The summer league begins on Thursday against the Detroit Pistons at the Thomas & Mack Center.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers to officially sign undrafted Duke Miles to an Exhibit 10 deal

The Philadelphia 76ers have been busy to begin the offseason as new President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey looks to build a strong roster around the team's talented core. The Sixers have been unable to get over the hump in the past, but Gansey and Co. have made steps towards fixing that problem.
The Sixers began the offseason by selecting Labaron Philon Jr. with the No. 22 overall pick and then went out and brought in Dean Wade, Ariel Hukporti, and Anfernee Simons in free agency. Then, the Sixers swung for the fences with the blockbuster trade to bring in Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics. Philadelphia is feeling confident about its chances to make a run in the East.
With that said, here's an updated look at the depth chart for the Sixers as they move forward:
Starter: Tyrese Maxey
Depth chart: Labaron Philon Jr., Anfernee Simons Caleb Love (two-way)

A number of familiar faces from Alabama basketball will be hitting the hardwood in the 2026 NBA Summer League.
All 76 games will be broadcasted via ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or Prime Video, starting with the California Classic slate, which began on July 3.
When the NBA Summer League officially tips off in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 9, Labaron Philon will be the first Crimson Tide former to make a showing. The rookie was drafted No. 22 overall by Philadelphia and will make his debut as the 76ers face the Detroit Pistons at 4:30 p.m. CT on Prime.
Here's a list of who to watch and how to catch their first games.
WHAT TO KNOW: Where 2026-27 Alabama men's basketball schedule stands to start July

The Philadelphia 76ers landed Alabama star Labaron Philon Jr. with the No. 22 overall pick in Tuesday's draft. The Sixers now have a legitimate backup guard to both Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe as well as setting up a possibility for 3-guard lineups in the future.
Philon made big strides in his sophomore season as he averaged 22.0 points and 5.0 ******* ists while shooting 39.9% from deep on 6.2 attempts per game. One can see the reason why Philadelphia selected him at this point in the offseason as it looks to build up the roster for the future.
The Athletic gave out its grade for each team's draft and the Sixers received a B for the Philon addition:
Philon is an awesome value for a team that needed more ballhandling in the backcourt behind Tyrese Maxey. Yes, Philon is slight. I have some concerns about his upside on a winning team because of that. But he was remarkably productive this season at Alabama and has an inherent creativity to his game. I would rather have him on a four-year rookie scale contract than McCain with two years left on his, plus the 76ers got three additional second-rounders in the deal. Philon is at least going to be a valuable backup guard with potential to become a starter, especially if he can get back to the level he was at defensively for Alabama as a freshman, as opposed to having to carry the load offensively as a sophomore.
It remains to be seen how Philon will fit in on this group defensively as he is on the slighter side, but he is a player who will find a way to make an impact. He has a high basketball IQ and a maniacal work ethic, just like Maxey and Edgecombe, and one has to believe he will figure it out. Philon fills a lot of needs for the Sixers and it will be on the organization now to figure out how to make it all fit.

CAMDEN, N.J. -- As Philadelphia 76ers rookie Labaron Philon Jr. continues to prepare for his maiden season in the NBA, the young guard knows he has to work hard in the gym in order to get to where he wants to go.
The No. 22 overall pick in the draft, Philon is listed at 6-foot-2 and has to rely on his shiftiness and footwork in order to get past taller defenders. That means getting on the floor and working on perfecting everything about his game in an effort to be tough to guard on the offensive end for defenders to truly understand what he is going to do.
"I would just say with the ball-handling definitely started in the streets in my mom’s backyard, but definitely at Alabama working on everything I needed to work on," Philon stated. "Work on getting to the paint, working on slowing things down and making the game easy for you and the people around you. I feel like that’s one of the best traits that I bring to the table, really."
Philon is a team player who is looking to make the game easier for everybody on the floor. Whether that's by taking the game over with his scoring ability or with his speed, shiftiness, and playmaking, he is going to find a way to impact the game. That determination right there is going to make him a fan favorite in Philadelphia and what he can bring to the Sixers.
"Just like making the game easy for others, really just getting into the paint and being able to provide for myself and my teammates," Philon stated. "I feel like just working on that footwork and things like that is very important just to have those options and not just look to score the ball. For me, that’s a very important trait."

[NBA2KL] Sixers rookie Labaron Philon Jr. says Alperen Sengun will be the first star whose ankles he breaks: “I be on TikTok a lot… they be saying he play like he got a refrigerator on his back.”
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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Labaron Philon Jr. says Alperen Sengun will be the …

Alabama basketball guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. has reportedly signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the NBA's Charlotte Hornets, per The Charlotte Observer's Rod Boone.
As a result, Wrightsell, who went undrafted in the 2026 NBA draft, will now join Charlotte where he will compete for a roster spot with the Hornets this offseason. This will also likely include Wrightsell playing for Charlotte during the NBA's upcoming Summer League.
Wrightsell spent the last three seasons at Alabama after transferring from Cal State Fullerton, starting in 36-of-66 games played. Over those three seasons combined, Wrightsell averaged 11 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.7 ******* ists a game, all while shooting 40% from three-point range.
The veteran guard was also a combined 85.7% free throw shooter during his time in Tuscaloosa.
Wrightsell was one-of-three Alabama players to go undrafted in the 2026 NBA draft, joined by Houston Mallette and Noah Williamson. Labaron Philon Jr. was Alabama's lone player selected, coming off the board at pick No. 22 overall to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Adam Aaronson‬: Labaron Philon Jr. has never been to Philadelphia. "I've heard they've got great cheesesteaks." Says he knows and has played against VJ Edgecombe in high school and has loved watching him "go out there and kill" in the NBA. Said Edgecombe was great on "all levels."
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Says he knows and has played against VJ Edgecombe in …

The Philadelphia 76ers selected Alabama guard Labaron Philon with the 22nd overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23 in Brooklyn, N.Y.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Labaron Philon is Sixers' first-round pick in NBA Draft. What we know

Warriors PR: GSW Pre-Draft Workout | June, 18: Brayden Burries, G, Arizona Cameron Carr, G, Baylor Anthony Dell’Orso, F, Arizona Barry Dunning, F, Pittsburgh Lajae Jones, F, Florida State Labaron Philon, G, Alabama Hannes Steinbach, C, Washington Bennett Stirtz, G, Iowa Tre White, F, Kansas
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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: GSW Pre-Draft Workout