Labaron Philon has traded in his Alabama basketball threads for a Philadelphia 76ers jersey after going No. 22 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
After he was selected in the first round on Tuesday, June 23, a sharply-dressed, teary-eyed Philon discussed his future at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
“I mean, it felt good. Me and my family just in there, waiting on my name to be called. It’s all about patience, really,” Philon said on the ABC broadcast.
Philon finished his second and final season in Tuscaloosa averaging 22 points, 3.5 rebounds and five assists per game. His All-American campaign was highlighted by his success as a shooter, making 50% of shots from the field and nearly 40% from the arc.
“It’s not about the pick (number), it’s about the fit. I feel like Philly is a great place for me,” Philon continued.
Leading up to the draft, Philon was widely viewed as a mid-first round pick in mock drafts. Going any higher was prevented by his size, standing at 6-foot-2 1/2, 176 pounds barefoot, as well as a stout class of freshman talent that left the college ranks for NBA riches.
Before Philon’s selection, the last time a member of the Crimson Tide who went in the first round was 2023, when Brandon Miller and Noah Clowney were taken No. 2 and No. 21 overall.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: What Labaron Philon said about going to Philadelphia 76ers in NBA Draft
