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Why is Labaron Philon Jr. falling in 2026 NBA Draft?
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- Why is Labaron Philon Jr. falling in 2026 NBA Draft?
Few players in college basketball had as much of a year-over-year improvement as Labaron Philon Jr. The Alabama guard more than doubled his scoring output this past season, averaging 22 a game on impressive 50/40/80 shooting splits.
Philon was 11th nationally in scoring yet didn't get picked in the top 20 of the 2026 NBA Draft . It's a surprising slide considering the wildly productive season he had. Let's get into why he's waiting longer than anticipated.
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Why is Labaron Philon Jr. falling in 2026 NBA Draft?
The primary concern with Philon is his size. While Philon's 6-foot-3 height is fine for his position, he needs to add weight. A lot of it. Alabama listed him at 167 pounds, and he only got to 176 pounds by the NBA Draft Combine. Philon's quickness may have been enough for him to thrive at the college level, but he won't be able to get to the rim or create his own shot without adding strength in the NBA. It remains to be seen whether he can add that muscle, and if he does, it could sap the shiftiness that made him such a special scorer in college.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why is Labaron Philon Jr. falling in 2026 NBA Draft?
