Mavericks are in position to snag a dream Kyrie Irving protégé in the NBA Draft

Alabama's Labaron Philon Jr. is consistently predicted to get drafted outside of the top 10, meaning that he should be available when the Dallas Mavericks are on the clock at No. 9 in the 2026 NBA Draft. If he's there, his playstyle would make him the perfect player to learn behind Kyrie Irving. Philon Jr.'s ball handling, self-creation, three-level scoring, and shooting make him a great next apprentice to learn under Irving, and his potential role for the Mavericks is too promising to ignore.

As Mavericks fans know, Irving has mastered the art of three-level scoring and ball handling. These are some of the many traits that make him so great.

Now imagine a player who is already good at these things learning under him. The sky is the limit.

Take Brandon Williams as an example. Irving's leadership helped him grow into being an elite scorer inside the arc, and Williams often incorporates moves that Irving taught him into his game. He is easily Irving's best success story as a mentor since arriving in Dallas, and he could pick up where he left off with Williams with Philon Jr.

Philon Jr. is the perfect next student for Irving's point guard school

The former Alabama guard would be able to lead the team's second unit, while also having the size, shooting, and secondary playmaking to play alongside Irving when needed. Philon Jr. also projects to be a solid defender due to his length, motor, and toughness, and this has to be appealing as Dallas looks to create a dominant defense around Cooper Flagg.

As a sophomore at Alabama, Philon Jr. averaged 22.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 50.1 percent from the field and 39.9 percent from downtown. This type of efficiency is hard to come by at the collegiate level on high volume, but Philon Jr. is the real deal. He significantly increased his draft stock by choosing to return to school after his freshman season last year, and his improvements have him consistently projected to be drafted in the top half of the lottery.

Dallas taking him at No. 9 would be a bit of a reach, but if they're set on him, they could consider trading back while recouping assets to draft the wiry 6-foot-4 guard. He's worth a lottery pick, and the NBA Combine proved that.

Philon Jr. shot 23/30 in the off-the-dribble drill from the mid-range, and his 15/25 shooting in the 3-point star drill added to his impressive day. This was better than Darius Acuff Jr., Keaton Wagler, and Darryn Peterson, and Philon Jr.'s 3/4 court sprint was impressive as well.

He posted the seventh-fastest time at the NBA Combine in this drill at 3.09 seconds, showing exactly why he'd be a great apprentice under Irving. The Mavericks' star guard has made a career out of being a fast, slippery player in the open floor, and Philon Jr.'s speed could help him become dangerous in this area as well.

Why Philon Jr. could become Dallas' long-term point guard solution

When watching Philon Jr., there's a strong case for him to be one of the best guards in this year's class. He measured at 6-foot-2.5 barefoot and posted a 6-foot-6.25 wingspan as well. This is a great build for an incoming rookie, especially if he continues to get stronger, and his offensive game would flourish on a team with Irving.

Irving could teach him the art of breaking his man down off the dribble and show him what it means to be a true pro. He has been an A+ pickup for Dallas on and off the court over the last few years, and his ability to lead young players can't be overlooked. Irving deserves credit for Williams' rapid development over the years due to the mentorship that he provided him, and we could see a similar growth pattern from Philon Jr. if the Mavericks draft him.

He's already good at the things that Irving has mastered, and learning from one of the most skilled players of all time would work wonders for Philon Jr.'s game. The young guard could learn from Irving until he's ready to take over as the team's point guard of the future, and with Irving's track record of mentoring players, Philon Jr. would become a star in Dallas.

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