The Philadelphia 76ers look a whole lot different since drafting Labaron Philon last month with the 22nd overall pick.
Initially, it appeared that the former Alabama star had a clear pathway to big minutes in his debut season. But since he was drafted, Philadelphia has pulled off a flurry of moves in its push to contend for an NBA Championship.
First, they pulled off a stunning blockbuster trade with the Boston Celtics to acquire former Finals MVP Jaylen Brown. Then, they signed a quality backup guard in Anfernee Simons. Those were a pair of ball-dominant players that immediately brought into question Philon's role as a rookie.
Friday's move made it even less clear.
Future Hall-of-Famer LeBron James, one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA, agreed to a two-year deal with the Sixers on Friday, sending the basketball universe into a frenzy:
BREAKING: LeBron James is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option, Klutch Sports Group and Klutch CEO and Game Over show host Rich Paul tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/ALOlTkgdAV
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 24, 2026
Labaron Philon's role will be impacted by Sixers signing LeBron James
One of the biggest weaknesses for the 76ers last season was their depth in the backcourt. Outside of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, they just had little else in the playoffs. That hurt them when they ran into the New York Knicks in the second round.
Philon was drafted to help fix that.
But now they've added Brown, James, and Simons, all of whom will spend some significant time on-ball.
Fortunately for Philon, he's perfectly used to playing off-ball, too. He's at his best with the ball in his hands, but he was a 40% three-point shooter at Alabama last season. He'll be able to play off LeBron, Brown, Maxey, Edgecombe, and anyone else.
A smaller rookie role isn't necessarily a bad thing for Philon. The NBA jump is a major transition, and he will undergo some growing pains at the next level. He could even spend some time in the G-League next season to ensure he's getting the on-court reps he needs.
It's all worth it, though. Philon will have the opportunity to learn from one of the best basketball players of all time. And now the Sixers have gone from a playoff team to a legitimate NBA Championship contender for his rookie season.
It's an exciting prospect for the former Crimson Tide guard. He's undoubtedly excited about the opportunity to play with LeBron. He's also surely excited about the competition that will come from his first season in Philadelphia. If you know Philon, he's not going to be intimidated by competing for minutes against LeBron or anybody.
Philon came to Alabama as a freshman with an uncertain role, too. He and Nate Oats even discussed the potential for a redshirt. Alabama was coming off a Final Four trip and was bringing back Mark Sears and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. in the backcourt, while adding Aden Holloway and Chris Youngblood in the Transfer Portal.
Talent and hard work won out for Philon then. It'll be harder now, but it's only a matter of time before Philon does the same thing in the NBA.
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