Alabama basketball possesses an ‘aura’: What it signifies, the reasons for its emergence, and Michael Jordan’s connection

In Year 1 with the Crimson Tide, freshman Labaron Philon already has some favorite things about playing with Alabama basketball in Coleman Coliseum.

The Mobile native recounted his experience in Tuscaloosa thus far on football stars Ryan Williams and Jaylen Mbakwe’s ‘New Wave’ podcast.

While Philon was being teased by Williams, who went to Saraland High, the word “aura” came up. For Gen Zs like Philon and Williams, the definition is a little different than what’s in the dictionary.

Sitting side by side in the grayscale studio, backlit by a neon Script A were the state of Alabama’s 2023 Mr. Football and Mr. Basketball, Williams and Philon.

“When the other team got the ball, they’ll (fans) be so loud,” Philon said. “They barely know what they be doing sometimes. They just be throwing it up there.”

More specifically, Philon said other teams “be throwing us some B.S.”

Williams proceeded to rag on Aden Holloway, Philon and their teammates for “not knowing what to do” when they score.

What is ‘aura’? Does Alabama basketball have it and what does Michael Jordan have to do with it?

Defending Alabama hoops, Philon called it an “aura moment.”

Merriam-Webster describes “aura” as a “distinctive atmosphere surrounding a given source,” or “a subtle sensory stimulus.”

In the Wikipedia Glossary of Generation Z Slang (Yes, that’s a thing) the term “aura” is defined as “overall vibe, energy or personality.” Per the definition of my almost 15 year-old brother, it’s “how freaking cool you are” and “if you do cool things, that gets you more” aura. His examples included “high school Lamelo” and Nikola Jokić’s full-court shot against Keon Ellis and the Sacramento Kings last week.

In Philon’s case, some aura moments included a steal that turned into a layup on the fastbreak in the second half against Arkansas State to inch a narrow Alabama lead to three points, or the no-look lob to Clifford Omoruyi in a commanding win over Illinois in the C.M. Newton Classic.

Some plays will result in Philon raising his arms into a flex, other times he opts for a dance. Regardless of the celebration of choice, he’s almost always a star for the camera.

“Coach Oats, he gets so mad when I celebrate, but I’ll just be so locked in … I’ll just be doing anything,” Philon said.

Williams continued his troll of Philon by sharing a story from class. The professor asked who the students looked up to.

Philon said Michael Jordan, which wasn’t a problem for Williams, but it was what he said next.

“Do you want to say it or do you want me to say it?” Williams asked.

“You can say it,” Philon said.

Williams thought that Philon might want to break one of Jordan’s records or have a 15-season career in the league. Not quite.