76ers' first round pick dazzles in NBA Summer League debut

76ers’ first round pick dazzles in NBA Summer League debut originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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On Thursday evening, the Philadelphia 76ers took to the court against the Detroit Pistons, marking the start of their NBA Summer League campaign, with the match being the first of four guaranteed fixtures in Las Vegas. While it might have been just another game for some of the people at the court, it was a very special outing for one player in particular: Labaron Philon Jr.

Philon was the Sixers’ first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, getting selected with the 22nd pick, entering the league off an impressive stint at the University of Alabama, where he averaged 22 points and five assists, while shooting with 50.1 percent accuracy from the field.

But those were his numbers in college, a stage where some players can thrive before falling flat against NBA-level talent. His Summer League debut proved he can perform at the next level.

Philon’s stellar outing

.@LabaronPhilon for threee! pic.twitter.com/CBVyLGWF5U

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) July 9, 2026

Against the Detroit Pistons, Philon wouldn’t be afraid to put his defenders into the mixer, pulling off some skillful dribble moves before landing a shot. The Sixers star’s first quarter would see him explode for 11 points, draining three makes from beyond the arc, while dishing out a loose assist at the same time.

This would be the high point from Philon, as he’d continue to add more throughout the following three quarters, ending the night with 18 points, seven assists, three rebounds, while shooting on 31 percent from the field. That last stat might not sound all too impressive, but given that it’s the rookie’s Summer League debut, he has more than enough time to work on it before the regular season or even training camp rolls around.

All eyes will be on Philon to see what he does in his second match in Las Vegas, which is slated for Saturday evening, with tip-off against the Indiana Pacers slated for 5:30 p.m. EST.

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