Labaron Philon Jr. is one of the smoothest, most interesting prospects in this year’s draft class. After an incredible sophomore leap at Alabama—where he averaged 21.6 PPG, 5.0 APG, 3.4 RPG, and 1.2 SPG—Philon earned third-team All-American honors and was named to the All-SEC First Team. A crafty, suave guard with real three-level scoring, playmaking upside, and disruptive defending, Philon projects as a solid two-way player who could be an effective floor general with exceptional shooting.
Philon’s
size marks him out as a true point guard. He stands at 6’3” barefoot (around 6’4” in shoes), and weighs 176 pounds, making him relatively wiry compared to a typical NBA point guard. This lean build allows him to speed through the court and contributes to his twitchiness on the ball. He has elite agility and change of direction, which, along with exceptional ball-handling, helps him consistently create separation and get to his spots.
Additionally, Philon is an elite shooter, posting .502/.397/.788 splits on pretty high usage. He shows comfort scoring from any area, including at the rim, where he converted on 65.7% of attempts. He’s not afraid of contact; in fact, he draws fouls at a solid rate. He’s a well-rounded scorer with a lot of tricks up his sleeve when it comes to attacking the rim, like floaters, up-and-unders, and Euro steps. It’s a marked improvement from Philon’s freshman year at ‘Bama, where he shot .452/.305/.762. Philon’s growth in shooting stemmed from his improved confidence; his willingness to pull it from deep is an encouraging sign of his mentality and fortitude. His lethality anywhere on the court, along with his quickness on the ball and contortionist-like finishing, reminds me of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Philon is also an above-average playmaker; his 5.0 APG ranked fourth in the SEC. He is as much a facilitator and provider as he is a bucket-getter. Philon is more than willing to kick the ball out to perimeter shooters when driving to the line, and he kept bigs like Amari Allen and Aiden Sherrell well-fed when coming off screens. He has great awareness and feel for the game, something that should translate to the next level.
Philon’s defense is a major part of the enigma surrounding his draft profile. His wiry build and shorter stature will leave him vulnerable to attacks from larger, nimble wings. However, Philon was an above-average defender his freshman year. With Mark Sears as the lead guard, Philon could concentrate more on guarding the opponent’s lead guard and intruding on passing lanes. The agility and feel that define his offensive game helped him guard some of the SEC’s best scorers in isolation, and he has a very gritty, tough mindset that helps him push through screens and absorb physicality. However, with the increased usage his sophomore season brought, Philon’s defense regressed, but the natural skills he showed his first season provide hope that he might not be the total minus his build suggests.
One of the biggest factors GMs will consider when evaluating Philon will be his ability to add weight. Philon has added barely more than two pounds to his frame since the 2025 NBA Draft Combine. Although you could point to Nate Oats’ brutal Alabama conditioning or the general humidity in Tuscaloosa, the bottom line is that Philon will need to add some muscle to deal with the league’s increased physicality. His decision-making is also a minor con; he can rush himself into some bonehead choices, especially in the later stages of the game.
Philon is a prospect that all fans, especially the Bucks faithful, should be excited about. He worked out with Milwaukee only a couple of days ago, making him the first lottery prospect (so far) the Bucks have hosted. As a wiry guard with an insane bag, solid playmaking, and a plethora of memorable college highlights (such as this game-winning shot), Philon will be one of the draft class’s more interesting stories.
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