​Labaron Philon scored 24 points with six assists and three rebounds as the Sixers defeated the Pacers 100-93 in Summer League play. Philadelphia’s first-round pick continues to flash real upside, and he got a big lift from second-year forward Johni Broome, who posted a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Here’s what stood out.
We didn’t see an immediate onslaught of threes the way we did in the Summer League opener, but Philon raised his level in his follow-up against Indiana. For the first 2.5 quarters, the Sixers looked like a composed pro unit in a setting where clean offense isn’t always easy to come by, and Philon’s poise and control at the point of attack were a major factor in their early success. There was talk earlier about whether Philon might already be the team’s best ballhandler, and it would be almost disrespectful to doubt that assessment after what we witnessed. His ability to manipulate pace and space with the ball keeps defenders guessing, and on Saturday he exploited the space inside the arc to convert short midrange jumpers and runners. An early-test matchup with Yuki Kawamura allowed him to show a bit of bully-ball, a rare wrinkle, but it was only a small piece of his overall effective attack in the paint.
Philon largely functioned as a facilitator through much of the first two quarters, and the Sixers leaned into a pass-heavy, share-the-ball approach to build an early lead over Indiana. Johni Broome deserves his own share of credit for enabling Philon and the team’s success—setting solid screens, making smart reads off the short roll, and maximizing scoring opportunities when they presented themselves. This felt like a pivotal Summer League moment for Broome, an older second-year player who didn’t log heavy minutes with the big club last season.
An optimistic take is that Broome might simply need an extra year to settle into genuine NBA conditioning, because much of what he’s shown through two games mirrors the momentum he built at Auburn. He lacks elite vertical explosiveness, but he compensates with instinct and enough power around the rim to position himself for putbacks and second-chance opportunities. He has been a meaningful addition for the Summer Sixers as a playmaker and interior presence. In Saturday’s action, many of Broome’s baskets came from his relentless work on the boards—reacting to and persisting through Pacers’ attempts to clear the glass, and then capitalizing on opportunities near the rim. Credit to the Auburn product for rising to the occasion, because a slow start in this setting could have cast a shadow over his future prospects.
My lingering note remains: defense is not where Broome’s strengths lie. The physical tools aren’t translating to a dependable stopper at this stage, and that has to be acknowledged as part of his profile heading into the regular season. But on this night, with Philon at the helm and Broome anchoring the middle, Philadelphia looked like a coherent unit capable of executing a productive game plan in Summer League fashion. If nothing else, this pairing underscored why Broome’s development is worth monitoring—his willingness to sacrifice for team-oriented play and his knack for capitalizing on second-chance opportunities provide tangible value for a roster in need of length and grit in the frontcourt.
In sum, Labaron Philon’s 24 points and six assists, paired with Johni Broome’s 23 points and 11 rebounds, produced a convincing Summer League performance that suggested both players are contending for meaningful roles this season. Philon demonstrated improved command and decision-making as a primary ballhandler, while Broome answered questions about his frame and motor with a zealous effort around the basket and on the offensive glass. If these trends continue, Philadelphia could be looking at a dynamic guard-forward duo whose complementary strengths translate to the NBA game as the summer slate progresses.