Adem Bona Facing Opportunity To Steal Future Frontcourt Role
The raw tools and a 6-foot-10, 235-pound frame looked promising when the Philadelphia 76ers selected Adem Bona in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft. However, a crowded group of big men blocked his path to a significant role in his rookie season.
The frontcourt rotation, like pretty much everything else involving the 2024-25 Sixers, has taken a drastic turn in an unexpected direction.
What can the Nigerian big man bring to the Sixers in extended minutes during the final stretch of a lost season and in his future with the organization?
Adem Bona in Extended Minutes
The Joel Embiid saga essentially derailed the season. Guerschon Yabusele surprisingly stole the role as Nick Nurse’s second choice at center during the first half of the season while veteran and expected backup Andre Drummond struggled to stay healthy.
Drummond has been available more often since the NBA All-Star Break in February. Nurse has mixed and matched with the 6-foot-8 Yabusele on the court alongside both Drummond and Bona in recent weeks.
Bona has jumped on the opportunity for playing time in the first standout performances of his career. His ability to protect the rim is an attractive skill that helps centers stick at the NBA level.
After scoring in double figures only three times in Philadelphia’s first 62 games, he’s reeled off 10+ in four consecutive games. He dropped a career high 16 points in an emphatic effort against the Indiana Pacers on Friday.
His most impressive bucket came in the second quarter when he grabbed one of his four offensive rebounds in between four Pacers and put the ball back for a quick two.
The former UCLA Bruin has logged four of the five highest career minute totals over the four-game stretch.
“I guess that happens with minutes. When you start playing, you get more comfortable. Being on the floor gives you confidence.” -Adem Bona
Bona also scored 14 points and grabbed 15 boards against the Utah Jazz on March 9. However, it was the five blocks that ignited the Wells Fargo Center crowd in the type of energizing moment that Sixers fans haven’t seen enough this season.
Drummond sat on the bench in street clothes with the night off, but he couldn’t help but stand up and clap for his rookie teammate after a few forceful swats throughout the night.
Sixers Must Consider Future of Frontcourt
Injuries to Embiid, Tyrse Maxey, Paul George, and a lengthy list of role players have forced Nurse to dig deeper and deeper into his bench.
Younger, inexperienced players have the opportunity to step into NBA action and justify their future with the Sixers. Bona has as much raw talent as anyone on the active roster, and the final portion of the season could play a major factor in determining his NBA future.
“He’s getting better. It’s really probably his calling card in this league if he can be a rim protector. It’s really important, and he has gone and gotten quite a few shots here in these last few games. He’s getting better. He’s getting better all the time.” -Nick Nurse
Would Bona be logging so many minutes down the stretch if the Sixers had even average injury luck in 2024-25? Probably not.
Aggressive play also doesn’t always pay dividends. The unpolished rookie’s powerful frame and inexperience have led to foul trouble at times during the season. He struggled to keep up with Pascal Siakam at some points against Indiana, and he committed two goaltending violations.
However, the uncertainty surrounding Embiid has also opened the door for the future of the frontcourt. Drummond will likely exercise his player option for a $5 million salary next season, but it’s fair to wonder how much he’ll contribute on the back half of his deal at age 32.
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Yabusele will become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
The Sixers’ jaw-dropping injury list and shrinking playoff odds have sucked the life out of the fan base, but players like Adem Bona, Ricky Council IV, and Quentin Grimes can carve their NBA careers in situations like these.
“The challenge for all these guys is: How consistently can you do the same things night in and night out? How consistently can you play up to your capabilities night in and night out?” -Nick Nurse
