There was always a strong chance that the Charlotte Hornets would target a guard in the 2026 NBA Draft. With the No. 18 pick, they ultimately landed Christian Anderson Jr. — a skilled, confident scorer who fits Charles Lee’s system. But the decision becomes interesting when you consider who was still on the board.
Labaron Philon Jr. was widely considered a lottery pick throughout the pre-draft process. He was available when Charlotte made its selection. Given his strong prospect profile, his Summer League flashes so far, and the repercussions of the LaMelo Ball trade, it’s fair to ask whether the Hornets got it right.
Hornets’ Biggest Draft Mistake Might Be Passing on Labaron Philon Jr.
Labaron Philon Jr. Has Looked Great So Far
In Vegas, Philon has been one of the numerous rookies who have stood out. Across three games, he’s averaging 19.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game.
In contrast, Anderson hasn’t made a huge splash just yet. Across three games, he’s averaging 10.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1 assist per game.
Summer League is best taken with a grain of salt, but it’s hard to ignore how impressive Philon has been. He’s been able to get to his spots and score at will, while also creating for others since the defense is almost always zeroing in on him.
Labaron Philon Jr. plays with a craftiness and savvy that smaller guards need to thrive at this level
He shifts gears and changes directions so well, and uses that to create separation and get to his spots pic.twitter.com/bjzR3aoNuI
— Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) July 14, 2026
Anderson has shown some good moments, but the shooting just hasn’t clicked yet. He was viewed as one of the premier shooters in this draft, so the hope is that shots start falling in the near future.
It’s starting to look like the Sixers got a late-round steal with Philon falling all the way to No. 22 on draft night. The question is: why did he fall so far?
Philon’s Draft Profile Looked Stellar
Philon breaking out in his sophomore year at Alabama was everything you wanted to see from him in terms of growth. His statistics went up across the board in almost every category, and his offensive bag looked legit. There was one glaring problem: size & frame.
At a fine height of 6’3”, Philon weighed in at 176 pounds at the NBA Combine. Successful guards in the NBA weighing under 180 pounds are essentially non-existent.
While he was able to get by at the collegiate level, life is harder in the NBA. And yet, he’s shown the ability to score at all three levels in the Summer League.
His goal should be to continue adding weight and muscle as he adjusts to the pros. Jeff Peterson’s decision to pass on Philon may have been for different reasons, as Anderson is a similar build (6’1”, 180 pounds). Anderson’s fit may be better because he was viewed as a pure point guard rather than a combo guard.
The Post-LaMelo Ball Era
The Hornets are at a talent deficit with Ball off the roster. Coby White is a fine starter, but the upside seems capped at a tier below.
Even if White does take another step up, who will play behind him off the bench? The hope is that Anderson becomes that guy. But if Philon enjoys a great rookie year down the road and Anderson is barely cracking the rotation, buyer’s remorse will settle in early.
Charlotte wasn’t the only team that passed up Philon, as guys like Bennett Stirtz and Ebuka Okorie were also drafted before him. Again, we shouldn’t overreact to Summer League play.
The Hornets’ point guard problem isn’t going anywhere. It’ll take an entire season for the front office to truly evaluate this role, but this could end up being a gigantic draft misstep by Peterson.
Photo Credit: David Banks, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
