CAMDEN, N.J. -- The Philadelphia 76ers made the decision on Thursday evening to send rookie guard Labaron Philon Jr. and third-year man Justin Edwards down to the G League to get the necessary minutes and court time they need in order to fully develop as players with the Delaware Blue Coats.
It makes a ton of sense as to why the Sixers did that. Obviously, Philon, Edwards, and other youngsters such as two-way players Caleb Love and Rayan Rupert, aren't getting the minutes at the NBA level and the Sixers want them to get the minutes they need down in the G League. Some may view that as disrespect or that they're not good enough. It can be a mental challenge, but coach Nick Nurse hopes they don't view it that way.
"I think that they should never,
ever treat it that way," said Nurse at practice on Saturday. "I just feel like my kinda first belief is, it’s hard to get better unless you’re playing. Like, that kind of trumps everything in my opinion. And just historically, we’ve had a number of guys that have gone down to those games and respected it, and it’s really helped them in their careers."
To Nurse's point, the Sixers have had success with sending guys down to the G League and having them develop and such. With such little opportunity with the Sixers for Philon, Edwards, and others, that's what a quick trip down to Wilmington, DE can do for them.
"You know with these guys, it’s been a minute for these guys, both of them, since they’ve gotten any real court time, so that fit into the schedule well," Nurse added. "I don’t like them to probably go that long, but it’s just kind of the way their season started and all that stuff, with ours starting much earlier. So, yeah, we’ll get them down there and they’ll get a chance to go again tonight, which I think will also help them find some rhythm, find their legs a little bit."
Dean Wade, who spent time in the G League as an undrafted player with the Canton Charge in the 2019-20 season, is a big believer in what the G League can do for younger players. He gave a long-winded, but phenomenal answer in terms of the insights of what the G can do for a player while at practice on Saturday:
Man, my G League experience was awesome. Really did kind of open my eyes to the professional world, just how relentless it is. But it's what helped me, early on in my career, stay in the NBA. I was getting no minutes in the actual NBA, so playing in the G League helped me keep my conditioning. And I had a great team in the G League, also, when I was a rookie. But as those guys always said, it was like, every game is a new opportunity to show other coaching staffs, other front offices, what kind of player you can be.
So, I think that's the biggest thing, is just getting out there and just getting reps, especially for young guys. Getting reps is a big thing. It's hard, especially on this team, working with some of the older guys and the good role players we have. It's hard for young guys, even in practice, to get in and get reps. So I think it's the best thing you can do for young players to get to the G League. I know a lot of young guys will tell take it as kind of a disrespectful thing, but it really has nothing to do with that. I think it’s a great thing for young guys to get down there and do I mean, you’re playing against professionals. They’re professionals in the G League and they want your opportunity.
So, they’re going to go at you. I think that was the biggest thing for me. I got to go down there and truly battle with those guys and learn how to – your body’s going to [get] beat up, you’ve got to wake up the next day and play again. For me personally, the G League helped mold them into an NBA player, be a professional. So my advice for young guys is go out there and try to play. Go out there and take it as an opportunity to get better and really learn the game. And take it as no disrespect, because those guys down there – you’ve got a bullseye on your back. Speaking from personal experience, when you come down to as a two-way or an assignment player, the other team has a bullseye on you. They're going to come after you every possession and trap you. So the biggest thing is just take the opportunity and get better. That's exciting. You're playing basketball. It's fun. So I think they need to jump on it and be excited for the opportunity.
VJ Edgecombe was among those in attendance supporting Philon and others and he explained how important it is to get down there and give some love to the younger players.
"Yeah they're my brothers, man, Labaron, Justin, C. Love, they’re my brothers," Edgecombe stated. "So I just want to show love. You know, Saint (Thomas), Jameer (Nelson Jr.) down there, got the relationship with them. Duke (Miles), I just try to just be supportive. I ain't had nothing to do yesterday. So I didn't know we had a day. You know, there was no game or nothing. So I was like, man, I just gotta show love, man. I just feel like it's important. We have that relationship off the court too, so I'm just being supportive, man, and just showing them that you know that I care about them too."
VJ Edgecombe on going down to Delaware last night to support Labaron Philon and others: “They’re my brothers, man. Labaron, Justin, C. Love? They’re my brothers. So. I just want to show love.” #Sixers pic.twitter.com/zsTyRBaK8Y
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) November 14, 2026
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Nick Nurse, Sixers players discuss Labaron Philon Jr. in G League
