CAMDEN, N.J. -- As rookie guard Labaron Philon Jr. prepares for his maiden season with the Philadelphia 76ers, he is going to have a lot of different players to lean on to learn from as he learns the ropes of the NBA.
The No. 22 pick of the draft back in June, Philon is in an ideal situation for any rookie. He can be brought along slowly on a team that has championship expectations and he can learn from a ton of successful stars in front of him. Whether that's Tyrese Maxey, LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, or even VJ Edgecombe, the rookie is eager to learn.
"It’s a blessing just to be around guys like that," Philon beamed. "Having a young guy in VJ who can help me with stuff that he’s seen his rookie year. It’s great to have four, five guys like that.
A rookie doesn’t normally get to play on a team like that or play with the stars like that. So I would say being able to have questions ready every day for those guys. I’m a rookie. I don’t really know a lot, and those questions can help me go to the next level. I would say it’s been going great so far."
Edgecombe, the No. 3 pick of the 2025 draft, had himself one helluva rookie season. The example that he set is something Philon wants to build off as he begins his first year in the league. Edgecombe was able to really make a big impact on a team filled with veterans and Philon wants to do the same.
"I would say VJ, definitely," Philon began. "With him being young, around the same age that I am, it’s definitely helping me to reflect on the things he had to go through his rookie year and then the things I’m going through now. It’s been great to be around him and talk to him on and off the court. Even while we’re on the (video) game, we’re still talking about basketball. It’s been a great relationship with him. I’ve known him since high school, so that relationship has picked back up and it’s been going great. He’s one of the guys I’ve been trying to learn from the most right now."
Philon is ready to take any lessons that Edgecombe can give to him. He is a young player eager to start his career off on the right foot and the Sixers have a number of veterans and successful players who can help him along the way with this journey he's about to begin.
"A couple things," Philon stated. "Just building in the weight room. The way he approaches his routine. That’s the most important thing for me, just trying to find time to get it all in at once and then get the extra work in. Seeing that from all the guys and just seeing their routines, it’s been great with trying to build. He’s been helping me with that."
Philon will need to take all of the advice he can get in this current season in order to find his niche and eventually earn a spot in coach Nick Nurse's rotation.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Labaron Philon Jr. in ideal situation to learn from talented Sixers
