CAMDEN, N.J. -- The No. 22 pick in the draft, Philadelphia 76ers rookie Labaron Philon Jr. is in the process of making his adjustments and moving forward in his maiden season in the league. He had a terrific season with the Alabama Crimson Tide as a sophomore in 2025-26 when he averaged 22.0 points and 5.0 assists while shooting 39.9% from deep.
Through three preseason games, he's had ups and downs, but Philon is continuing to learn in the NBA and will be looking to help the Sixers on their run to the mountaintop. There is one thing about the NBA game that has stood out to him thus far.
"I would say the spacing," Philon stated. "The spacing is really, it’s really more spaced on the court, and you got to be able to knock down shots. I would say that
guys are going to be in gaps and stuff like that. Different teams got different schemes."
Studying scouting reports is a big part of preparation in the league. While it was big in college, that's something he is looking into as he continues his prep for the NBA.
"So, just knowing the scheme of the team, knowing the scouting reports, I would say that's important, just like it is in college," Philon added. "But anything in game, I would say the space really, just like knowing where to be on the court, knowing how to space on offense, and like I said, knowing how to be at the right plays at the right time on defense."
Philon will be running a second unit that will feature some legitimate floor spacers such as Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He will have plenty of space to do what he does best which is attack the paint, draw defenders, and either finish at the basket or kick out to those shooters and floor spacers.
"I would say picking up just the way they want to shoot the ball, really, and the way they like to catch it and step," Philon added. "I would say just driving in the lane, everybody's going to collapse, so it makes it easier. You got guys like KCP, Dean, and other guys like that being able to shoot the ball really well."
The Sixers have a seriously talented starting lineup led by legitimate scorers such as LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid, but the real threat for this group will be when coach Nick Nurse turns to the bench. Philon is quickly learning that due to the space around him, he can get into the paint with his blazing speed.
"Being a guy that can get in the paint, as you know, for me, being able to have guys like that around me is really special, and I would say it's a blessing, just because, as a rookie, you don't really get to play with a lot of guys like that," Philon finished. "Dean Wade is a guy that can pick and pop. KCP is a guy that can slash, come off screens and shoot as well. So really, just like that combination is really good."
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers rookie Labaron Philon Jr. reveals what he's learned about NBA
