Labaron Philon gave the Mavericks the perfect reason to draft him at No. 9

The Dallas Mavericks need to find a player at No. 9 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft who can play alongside Cooper Flagg. They also need a player who can either work next to or potentially replace Kyrie Irving. Labaron Philon Jr. has effectively confirmed that he's the perfect player for both goals.

Philon is a projected first-round pick with a fascinating profile as a two-way player who boasts legitimate star potential, but his greatest appeal to Dallas is that he's willing to play any role they need him to.

Philon, 20, is reportedly on the Mavericks' radar in terms of options at No. 9. It's not hard to understand why, as he followed a strong freshman season with a stellar sophomore campaign. It's the manner in which he's adapted to the changes in his role and what the NBA might expect of him, however, that provides the ultimately justification for Dallas potentially drafting him.

During an interview with Ryan Hammer of the BlueBlooded Podcast, Philon spoke about his adaptability and how he gained experience in multiple roles during his collegiate career (h/t Hunter De Siver of Sports Illustrated).

"A lot of these guys are freshmen, but those guys still could play. Toughness can be one. I'd say adapting [too]. In my first year, having to be more like a combo guard to then my sophomore year being like the lead guy. Being able to adapt in both situations, I feel like I did pretty good in both."

Philon continued, elaborating on his point and explaining that he doesn't actually have a preference for how he's asked to play as long as he's helping his team win.

"But I don't really have a preference for what position I play. It's really just like plug-and-play me and see where I fit. As a guard, that's all you could really ask for. It's a great opportunity. If you've got the skills, you're going to showcase it. But keep putting in the hard work and being able to adapt in any situation is the most important thing for me."

For a Mavericks team that needs a guard of the future to flank Flagg and play alongside Irving for as long as he's still in Dallas, Philon has certainly made a powerful case for himself at No. 9 overall.

Labaron Philon Jr.: "Plug-and-play me and see where I fit"

Philon did a whole lot of everything in 2025-26, averaging 22.0 points, 5.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 2.5 three-point field goals made per game. He did so with remarkable efficiency, shooting at a clip of .501/.399/.798.

Though numbers tend to tell an incomplete story in regard to the NBA Draft, Philon's reveal exactly what he meant when he said he can adapt.

As a freshman, Philon proved capable of excelling as a corner-crashing, ball-hawking combo guard who could create for his teammates. Unfortunately, his inefficient outside shot and lack of assertiveness on the drive poked holes in his efficacy as an all-around scoring threat and off-ball player.

Between 2024-25 and 2025-26, however, he improved his three-point shooting by 8.4 percent and attempted 3.9 more free throws per 40 minutes while shooting 3.2 percent better on two-pointers.

Labaron Philon Jr. offers a bit of everything and the will to improve

Though Philon is thin in his frame, he has a 6'6.25" wingspan and stands at just under 6'3" without shoes. Those are ideal measurements for a point guard and could help him hold his own as a combo guard. In either scenario, he'd be able to help Flagg and even play alongside Irving as a sharpshooting wing.

What makes Philon the perfect pick at No. 9, however, is that he has star potential of his own as an elite ball handler who can create his own offense, drive the lane, and put points on the board.

Philon averaged 28.4 points and 6.5 assists per 40 minutes in 2025-26. Those numbers are as impressive as they seem. He tormented defenses of every caliber, getting to his spots with precision and determination, and converting from every corner of the floor with a remarkably well-rounded skill set.

The NCAA Tournament also acted as the perfect testament to his adaptability, as he posted 29 points during the Round of 64, 12 assists during the Round of 32, and 35 points during the Sweet 16.

In Dallas, Philon can be the shot creator who studies under Irving and develops into the franchise scoring point guard. He can also take pressure off of Flagg with his floor spacing, as well as his ability to create offense that the Mavericks' franchise player isn't directly responsible for.

There are no shortage of options for Dallas at No. 9, but Philon's skill set, adaptability, selflessness, and upside as an offensive player make him an easily justifiable pick.

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