LaBaron Philon Jr. Adds Steam to 76ers Lineup in NBA Summer League

Labaron Philon Jr. wasted absolutely no time making himself comfortable in Las Vegas. By the time most players had settled into the flow of the game, the Philadelphia 76ers rookie had already piled up 11 points in the opening 11 minutes and was performing like he’d been running the offense for a lot longer than one Summer League night.

The No. 22 overall pick out of Alabama set the tone from the start in Philadelphia’s 101-93 win over the Detroit Pistons, and it wasn’t just because the shots were falling. Philon had the ball on lockdown, reading defenders before they could react and keeping teammates involved all the way down the floor.

His best moment didn’t even come on a basket. At one point, Philon fired a gorgeous pass to teammate Johni Broome for an easy finish. It showed instant chemistry and the ability to work with players you’re just getting to know.

More sports news: Clippers' Summer League Roster Puts the Spotlight on Keaton Wagler

Philadelphia fed off that energy.

The 76ers had four players in double figures by halftime, and the offense hummed with the kind of rhythm coaches spend weeks trying to build. Philon was at the center of it all, balancing scoring with playmaking and never looking rushed or flustered.

He finished with 18 points, including four shots from beyond the arc, and handed out seven assists in an impressive debut. For a young point guard, that’s about as encouraging a first impression as you could get.

More sports news:Thunder Roll out 2026 Summer League Roster, Including Aday Mara

The 2026 NBA Summer League runs from July 9 through July 19 in Las Vegas, featuring all 30 NBA teams across 76 games at Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion. If Philon’s opening performance is any indication, the 76ers may have landed another guard who knows how to keep everyone involved while still getting his own baskets.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published July 11, 2026 at 1:20 PM.