TUSCALOOSA — Former Alabama guard Labaron Philon has taken his first steps on the NBA stage, inking a four-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and making an immediate impression during Summer League play on July 11.
Contract terms and guarantees
Philadelphia, which selected Philon with the No. 22 overall pick in the June 23, 2026 draft, finalized a deal that runs through the 2029 season. According to publicly available salary data, the agreement is valued at $17,839,511 over four years, with an average annual salary of $4,459,878. In year one, Philon is slated to earn $3,597,120, and his contract carries guaranteed money of $7,373,880 across the first two seasons.
| Year | Salary |
|---|---|
| 2026 | $3,597,120 |
| 2027 | Part of $7,373,880 guaranteed (years 1–2) |
| 2028 | Contract value continues through 2029 |
Summer League debut in Las Vegas
Philon opened his Summer League account with an efficient showing, finishing with 18 points and a team-leading seven assists in a 101-93 win over the Detroit Pistons. He knocked down four 3-pointers while running the point for Philadelphia, a performance that underscored why the Sixers invested a first-round pick in the 20-year-old guard.
What this means for Alabama and local fans
For Crimson Tide supporters, Philon’s contract and on-court debut represent another recent example of Alabama producing NBA-level talent. His immediate contributions in Summer League offer a glimpse of how he might carve out a role in Philadelphia — particularly as a guard capable of shooting from distance and creating for teammates — while also enhancing the program’s recruiting narrative back in Tuscaloosa.
- Drafted: No. 22 overall, June 23, 2026
- Contract: 4 years, $17,839,511 total
- Summer League debut: 18 points, 7 assists, 4 three-pointers on July 11, 2026
Philon is scheduled to appear again for the Sixers on July 11 against the Indiana Pacers, with tipoff at 4:30 p.m. Central and national streaming availability on Prime Video. The Pacers roster includes another former Crimson Tide player, which adds a local interest subplot to the matchup.
As the NBA regular season approaches, Philon’s early contract security and his Summer League showing give Alabama fans something tangible to watch for: whether a player who helped the Crimson Tide at the college level can translate those skills to a professional environment and build a sustained role in the Eastern Conference.
Coverage for this report included details from published salary data and game reports from the July 11 Summer League opener.
