Labaron Philon’s Stock Keeps Climbing After Just Two Games

After just two games, Labaron Philon‘s stock is already starting to rise significantly. Could Philon be selected in the lottery?

Labaron Philon’s Stock Keeps Climbing After Just Two Games

Labaron Philon had an impressive freshman season for the Alabama Crimson Tide that saw him make the 2025 SEC All-Freshman team. Philon originally declared for the 2025 NBA Draft but withdrew his name and returned to Alabama for his sophomore season. So far, in just two games, it appears Philon has made the right decision, and he has the makings of a potential lottery pick for the 2026 NBA Draft.

As a freshman, Philon averaged 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 24.7 minutes per game. Beyond stats, Philon showed significant playmaking promise on both sides of the ball and impressive ballhandling. While his freshman production was impressive, he seems to have taken a significant leap in the first two games. One of his biggest areas for improvement heading into this season was his shooting, as he only shot 31.5% from three last season.

Philon appears to have made an offensive leap

This year, Mark Sears and Chris Youngblood departed for the NBA, meaning more responsibility for Philon this season. So far, Philon has more than lived up to the expectations. While two games is not a large sample size, it is evident that Philon looks much more dominant on offense. In Alabama’s season opener against North Dakota, Philon scored 22 points on 9-13 shooting and also went 2-4 from three. He added 8 assists and was very comfortable on offense despite Alabama being shorthanded.

This weekend, No. 15 Alabama played No. 5 St. John’s at Madison Square Garden, and the matchup delivered. Alabama ended up winning 103-96, but Philon was arguably the most impressive player in the game. Despite battling some foul trouble, Philon scored 25 points in just 29 minutes of game action and showed a well-balanced scoring attack. Most impressively, when Alabama was up 91-88 with 3:22 left, Philon scored 7 straight points, including an impressive stepback three to put the game out of reach. Labaron Philon is unafraid of big moments and adjusted well to the physicality of St. John’s in the second half.

Some standout aspects from Philon’s offensive start include his shooting off the dribble and his body control finishing at the rim. Philon is displaying the same comfort level as a playmaker, but the shooting leap seems to have arrived. If he can sustain this level of shooting, Philon could force his way into lottery pick conversations. Philon would’ve likely been drafted this past summer if he didn’t withdraw, but staying at school appears to have been the right move.

The Last Word

Alabama should be one of the top SEC contenders, and Labaron Philon is a huge reason why. After just two games, Philon looks much more dominant offensively than in his successful freshman season. The 2026 NBA Draft class is stacked with talent, but Philon has lottery pick potential. If Philon keeps shooting at a high level, he could be one of the first guards selected. After just two games, Labaron Philon continues to establish himself as a key name to watch.