After showing glimpses of being an electric scorer in the Summer League, there are now real expectations for Labaron Philon Jr. to be an immediate contributor to the Philadelphia 76ers this coming season. However, nothing will come easy for him role-wise, and if he wants to receive consistent minutes from the coaching staff, he will have to show that he possesses a swing skill –– playing effectively without the ball in his hands.
With so many talented shot creators on the roster, the 76ers need their lineups to be as optimized as possible with the least skill set overlaps possible. This early in his career, Philon will probably not be banked on to do the primary scoring in all lineups featuring him. Hence, being able to impact the game without the rock will most likely determine if there is a stable spot in the rotation awaiting him in his freshman campaign.
Labaron Philon Jr. has to be effective off the ball to land stable 76ers role
Right now, Philon is projected to help Anfernee Simons lead the second unit in scoring. However, the latter is a much more proven scorer, so the veteran will have more time with the ball. For the most part, the rookie will be trotted out as an additional floor spacer who can be a secondary creator with his nifty scoring ability.
Be that as it may, there is admittedly a lot of parallels between Philon and Simons' skill sets. If the rookie fails to show that he can still be a tenable rotation piece even without a dominant on-ball role, Nick Nurse and the coaching staff will not shy away from seeking other options to make the bench a more well-rounded unit.
Of course, Philon's scoring ability is his bread and butter. The 76ers are not going to suppress that. However, at this point in time, the team has no reason to veer away from their All-Stars and other established scorers in order to usher in the rookie and accommodate an accelerated load for him. The rookie has to be the one doing the adjustments to fit in and land a consistent spot in the rotation.
Fortunately, training camp is set to begin soon, which gives Labaron Philon Jr. the ideal platform to discover how he can mold his game as a complementary piece. While that is not his end goal as a player, it is simply what the team requires of him at this stage. With the 76ers touting lofty championship goals, he has no reason but to abide, lest he could ride the bench more than expected.
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