Inside Sixers: The LeBron James waiting game, Labaron Philon Jr.’s creativity, and more from Las Vegas Summer League

LAS VEGAS — LeBron James has been everywhere — and nowhere — during the NBA Summer League.

It has been more than two weeks since the all-time great told the Los Angeles Lakers that he will play somewhere else during the 2026-27 season. Yet as the NBA’s prominent figures converged in Sin City, more speculation than actual insight has percolated about where that next destination will be — and the 76ers’ status as a contender.

New president of basketball operations Mike Gansey acknowledged to The Inquirer Tuesday morning that his team is “waiting, like the rest of the NBA” for James’ decision. Young standout VJ Edgecombe beamed when asked Monday about his team’s pursuit of James, but added, “If we do get him, I’m happy. If we don’t, I’m still happy.”

» READ MORE: Mike Gansey ‘never would have envisioned’ landing Jaylen Brown in his first Sixers offseason — and is happy to wait on LeBron James’ decision

Elsewhere, a conversation among league followers and participants earlier in the week led to pondering if James would make his choice on Wednesday — aka, the annual dead day in the American sports calendar following the MLB All-Star Game (spoiler: he did not). Perhaps James’ scheduled appearances at Fanatics Fest NYC on Thursday and Friday will be the stage for such an announcement.

During this leaguewide wait — which has mostly put the second wave of free agency on hold — on-court basketball things still have occurred.

Labaron Philon Jr., the Sixers’ first-round draft pick, has demonstrated why this new-look front office believed it could not pass on him at No. 22. Second-year big man Johni Broome has recovered from knee surgery, and has flashed interior dominance in an environment where he should thrive. Quintessential summer league stories have emerged from the Sixers’ team.

Here are some final nuggets from The Inquirer’s stay in Las Vegas:

Philon has been a fearless shot-maker, averaging 19.7 points and sinking 38.9% of his six three-point attempts in his first three summer league games before Wednesday’s 7-of-24 clunker from the floor (1-of-13 from beyond the arc) against the Orlando Magic.

Perhaps even more impressive has been the rookie’s sharp ballhandling and passing, especially with a team that was assembled quickly. His more “freestyle” or “backyard-type” moments, he said, draw inspiration from Jason Williams and Kyrie Irving.

“Just being able to make one move and go,” Philon said, “I feel like that will be important for me with better defenders and stronger guys [in the NBA]. Just being able to have that creativity is important. … I don’t really see a lot of young guards with that kind of creativity.”

A massive Sixers contingent sat courtside for Tuesday’s game against the Houston Rockets, including owner Josh Harris, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment president Bob Myers, front office executives Gansey, Jameer Nelson, and Prosper Karangwa, and players Edgecombe, Dominick Barlow, and Justin Edwards.

Yet Dalen Terry’s baby daughter may have been the most popular person on the team’s version of celebrity row.

“This is something I’ve always dreamed of, just having my kids here,” Terry said. “I want her to be able to see a picture of her on my lap asleep during the game. In 10 years, she’ll be like, ‘I was there?!’ [I’ll be] like, ‘You were right there on TV and everybody was talking about you.’”

After signing a two-way contract with the Sixers following the February trade deadline — which was converted to a standard deal late in the regular season — the team picked up Terry’s $2.6 million option for the 2026-27 season. The 24-year-old guard said he had “no doubts” the Sixers would re-up with him, though his deal is nonguaranteed until Jan. 10.

Terry added that he has spent this offseason drilling his shooting, what he called the “biggest knock” on his game with career splits of 44.3/31.4/63.8 in four NBA seasons. He also found value in experiencing the playoffs for the first time — even while playing the final minutes of the New York Knicks’ dominant sweep of the Sixers.

“You see the rotations get shorter,” Terry said. “Everything is just so much more compact. Every mistake matters. … It was crazy to just see how intense the games were. It was almost like college, the Final Four every game.”

During a timeout in Thursday’s opener against the Detroit Pistons, Isaac Johnson had this message for his new teammates: “Welcome to Vegas. You can make a lot more money than at the tables right now.”

Meet one of Summer League’s more colorful characters.

Johnson, a 7-foot, mustache-sporting center originally from Utah, is nicknamed “Big Fish” because of a middle school inside joke between him and a much-shorter friend that stuck. He became a fan favorite during a winding-yet-successful college career that took him from Oregon, then to Utah State, then to Hawaii. While at Utah State, Johnson had a name, image, and likeness deal with local fast-food chain Arctic Circle, creating a milkshake with the Swedish Fish candy.

» READ MORE: VJ Edgecombe was ‘shocked’ by the Jaylen Brown trade, and loves the Sixers’ pursuit of LeBron James

“I love people, and I love genuine people,” Johnson said of why he naturally connects with fan bases. “So I try to be as genuine as I can. I’m one that hopefully gives more than I take.”

In Las Vegas, the undrafted Johnson said he hoped to demonstrate team-first defensive qualities such as helping on screens, protecting the rim, and boxing out.

And to shoot the ball when he is open.

That was on full display in the Sixers’ first win over the Pistons. He scored 20 points in 20 minutes and went 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, including a falling four-point play that prompted an enthusiastic scream upon hitting the deck.

“I’m usually a very logical person, so I don’t react in any negative ways,” Johnson said. “But as long as it’s energy-giving, my emotions are very big. So you can see that in my celebrations.”

Matt Rogers drilled a corner three-pointer late in Saturday’s overtime win over the Indiana Pacers, right in front of new Sixer Jaylen Brown.

It was not only a highlight moment for an undrafted player using summer league to “try to get my name out there” for opportunities in the States and abroad. It was evidence of Rogers’ road back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, which sidelined him for about 16 months.

» READ MORE: After an unexpected setback, Johni Broome aims ‘to keep proving myself’ at Summer League

“I’m just blessed to be out here,” said Rogers, who starred at American University before his injury. “ … I’m just happy to be out here and showcase my skills again.”

Rogers scored 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting in Saturday’s victory, and complemented that outside shooting with productive cuts to the basket.

“He makes smart plays,” Sixers summer league coach T.J. DiLeo said of Rogers. “He’s in the right spot. He takes what’s given to him.”

Johnson on Philon’s game: “He might be the steal in this draft, I’m not going to lie. Too many teams let him slip. For him to fall here? He is incredible. How quick he is. How tight his handle is. How he’s able to shoot the ball [and get] down the lane. His passing instincts. He honestly might be the steal of the draft, and I’ll say that very confidently.”