The Philadelphia 76ers just wrapped up their 2026 NBA Summer League run with a tough 94-96 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday evening, but don’t let that final score fool you. This Summer League was all about getting an early look at some serious talent, especially their recent first-round draft pick, Labaron Philon Jr, and dude did not disappoint.
Johni Broome Is Looking Like a Whole New Player
Remember Johni Broome? The Sixers drafted him in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, hoping for a low-risk, high-reward backup for Joel Embiid. His initial NBA minutes weren’t great, so he went to the G League, where he crushed it for the Delaware Blue Coats before a right meniscus tear ended his season in late February. But get this, he came back for Summer League looking completely re-energized. Across three appearances, the 23-year-old put up 14.6 points and nine rebounds per game. Those numbers are a significant jump from his 2025 Summer League averages of 11.5 points and 7.4 rebounds. We all know Summer League isn’t the NBA, but that kind of improvement is definitely something to keep an eye on when the regular season starts.
Labaron Philon Jr. Is a Certified Scorer
The real showstopper, though, was Labaron Philon Jr. This guy was picked earlier this summer, and it’s easy to see why. At the University of Alabama, he was dropping 21.9 points a night during his sophomore season, hitting 50.1 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from downtown. In his four Summer League appearances in Las Vegas, the 20-year-old put on an offensive clinic. His highlight was a 24-point outing against the Indiana Pacers, where he shot 40.9 percent and dished out six assists in 34 minutes. If there’s one thing he might need to tweak before training camp, it’s his three-point accuracy, which dropped to 25.8 percent in Summer League, a clear dip from his college numbers. Still, the raw scoring ability is absolutely undeniable.
Dante Maddox Jr. Shut Down the Doubters
Then there’s Dante Maddox Jr. Back in the 2025 NBA Draft, he was coming off a shaky season with Xavier, averaging just 7.3 points a night. So it wasn’t a shocker when he didn’t hear his name called. But that setback just fueled the 24-year-old. He signed with BNXT side Okapi Aalstar and just lit it up on the court. During his 40 games with Okapi A, he truly ignited.
These guys have shown they’re hungry. Philon Jr. needs to tighten up that three-ball, and Broome has to prove his Summer League strides translate to the big stage. With training camp on the horizon, the competition for roster spots and significant minutes is going to be fierce.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Leave a Reply