Inside Labaron Philon Jr.’s draft night and unexpected fall to the ‘perfect spot’ with the Sixers

NEW YORK — Labaron Philon Jr., woke up before 7 a.m. Tuesday, and started playing music.

Up first on his early-morning playlist was hip-hop artist Lucki. Then rapper NoCap, who also hails from Philon’s hometown of Mobile, Ala.

“I was bouncing around,” Philon later recalled to The Inquirer. “ … I was just like, ‘Man, it’s really here.’”

The NBA draft had finally arrived. Philon, the crafty guard from Alabama, had already delayed this life-changing basketball accomplishment by a year, after declaring for the 2025 draft and then taking his feedback from teams back to a second college season. Then, Philon sat in front of Barclays Center’s massive stage for longer than expected Tuesday, as a projected lottery pick who slipped past that portion of the first round.

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But though that final dose of anticipation created a “kind of long” draft day, landing with the Sixers with the 22nd overall pick was worth the wait.

“Being able to hear your name is everything,” Philon said late Tuesday from a back-of-house area of Barclays Center. “But the fun stuff around the building — the media and the circus and stuff like that — I feel like it’s really fun to just be able to experience that, especially having two years in college.”

Philon’s solo music session lasted for almost an hour, before an 8 a.m haircut. Then his family members — from parents, Alicia Robinson and Labaron Sr., to his siblings, to his grandmother and cousins and uncles whom Labaron had not seen much while traveling across NBA markets during the predraft process — joined him at that luxury Manhattan hotel for the draft prospects’ luncheon.

He eventually changed into a black suit and black-rimmed glasses, and slipped on a diamond-encrusted “16” chain that NoCap had loaned him a couple of weeks ago for his big night. Upon arriving at the Brooklyn Nets’ home arena, Philon took in his surroundings.

As he watched peers go off the board before him for more than two hours, Philon kept his focus on “the main thing”: that his name would be called at some point. A television camera caught Philon nodding when the Sixers were on the clock at 22, his mind “immediately” wrapping around the play style and fit with fellow electric guards Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. Extra serendipitous: The Sixers were one of Labaron’s brother’s favorite teams while they were growing up, another detail that put Philon at ease.

“Really being confident in myself,” Philon said, “and being confident that they chose a great player.”

When NBA commissioner Adam Silver called Philon’s name, tears visibly formed in his eyes as he rose from his seat. The hug from Mom — “she was really excited,” he said — is a moment he will never forget.

» READ MORE: The Sixers may have snagged a draft sleeper in Labaron Philon Jr. at No. 22

He stepped up to the stage, grabbed a black Sixers hat, and shook Silver’s hand. Then he was whisked into a rapid-fire circuit of photos, interviews, and autograph signings. Maxey and Edgecombe FaceTimed in to say congratulations and welcome.

“Perfect spot,” Philon told them. “Just patience.”

It was past midnight when Philon finished his formal news conference, with stops still to go.

He was looking forward to returning to the hotel, to celebrate with his fellow draftees and change into some comfortable clothes. Perhaps he would finally look at his phone, which had been constantly buzzing. Or just “lay down for a little bit.”

“Being able to breathe, really,” Philon said.

Tuesday had already become Wednesday. A long-yet-life-changing draft day, and night, and early morning, was reaching its end.

But it was all worth the wait.

“The whole week has been special for me and my family,” Philon said. “Being able to experience the beginnings of a new start.”