Why Nick Nurse knows Labaron Philon is 76ers’ key to winning 2027 NBA championship

Teams in a win-now situation tend to bargain away their future assets to win as quickly as possible. The Philadelphia 76ers do not seem to be following the conventional path. While they already have great guards in Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and VJ Edgecombe, the front office made an interesting offseason choice. They picked  Labaron Philon out of the Alabama Crimson Tide to supplement their other stars. Coach Nick Nurse knows this move may have made fans scratch their heads, but the organization had a reason for this selection. It’s because they believe the rookie will be key to their 2027 NBA championship run and beyond.

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How Philon will be Nurse and 76ers’ key to winning 2027 NBA championship

Labaron Philon has been balling out at the NBA Summer League. Throughout two games, he averaged 21 points on a 36.6% field goal percentage alongside 6.5 assists, three rebounds, and a steal. Usually, this is a concern for most coaches, given that the Alabama product will have to share the ball with Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and VJ Edgecombe.

Coach Nick Nurse is not like most head coaches. The 76ers head honcho thinks that Philon will be a key to how they do in a 2027 NBA Championship run. In fact, he thinks it will be the rookies and Anfernee Simons who hold the fate of their backcourt more than the stars, per Tony Jones of The Athletic.

«I think Anfernee and Philon are both going to be important. I think both of them are handlers who can play some pick-and-roll and score. Both of them are super athletes. It seems like we’ve gotten faster and a lot more athletic. Of course, there are some other issues. We might be a touch small at times, but I certainly take the speed and athleticism. Then, it’s just up to our staff to get these guys and put them in the right spot,» the 76ers head coach declared.

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Philon can certainly carry an offense all by himself or just be an astounding floor general for the 76ers. He did exactly that while playing for the Alabama Crimson Tide during his final collegiate season. He averaged five assists per game while also contributing 22 points a night.

So, Coach Nurse can develop him into an offensive setter, allowing Maxey, Brown, Edgecombe, and even Joel Embiid to thrive. If his development works out, the 76ers will also have a star of the future.

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More 76ers News:

• Nick Nurse reveals 76ers’ plan for Tyrese Maxey that should scare 2026-27 NBA teams

• 76ers rookie Labaron Philon making early statement in Summer League

• Nick Nurse names 76ers’ new X-Factor, it’s not Jaylen Brown or Joel Embiid