During Tuesday night’s 2026 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected former Alabama guard Labaron Philon with the 22nd overall pick.
Philon is the first Crimson Tide player since 2023 to be taken in the NBA Draft and the fifth first-round pick under head coach Nate Oats.
The former Alabama guard is coming off a historic two-year stint in Tuscaloosa, capped off by one of the most dominant individual seasons by a guard in Alabama history. As a sophomore, he anchored the Crimson Tide by averaging 22.0 points, 5.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. Philon showed elite efficiency by shooting over 50% from the field and just under 40% from beyond the arc, earning third-team All-American honors and a first-team All-SEC selection. His 725 total points during the 2025-26 campaign stand as the third-highest single-season scoring mark in program history.
The Mobile native decided to stay home and play for the Crimson Tide when he joined Alabama as a prized member of the 2025 recruiting class. He made an immediate impact, earning SEC All-Freshman honors before returning for a breakout sophomore year as the undisputed leader of the roster.
Philon originally tested the NBA Draft waters in 2025 on the heels of an SEC All-Freshman season, but after performing at the NBA Combine and analyzing feedback from pro scouts, a projected late-first- or second-round draft slot wasn't enough to make him jump. Betting on himself, Philon pulled his name from consideration just an hour before the withdrawal deadline to return to Alabama for his sophomore year.
During his two years on campus, he helped guide Alabama to the Elite Eight in 2025 and a Sweet 16 appearance in 2026.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
