Since the Sixers’ season recalibrated, second-round rookie Adem Bona has made the most of the unexpected opportunity.
A cliche around the league is that it’s typically easier for bigger rookies to have an immediate impact compared to what guards are able to do. The advantage of size and, in most cases, athleticism helps them hang on the defensive end while the offense takes time to develop and adjust to a higher level.
Sixers second-round pick Adem Bona, a 6-foot-10 center who can jump out of the gym, was no different. Per Cleaning the Glass, he’s in the 94th percentile in the league for his block rate, but just the 13th percentile for his foul rate.
As such a raw talent, Bona wasn’t expected to see many rotation minutes in his rookie season. For how injury riddled the team has been this year, it normally took both Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond to be inactive for Bona to see the floor while this team was trying to compete.
Obviously, the Sixers never were able to bring themselves back up into playoff contention and had to pivot. Since they waved the white flag on the season, they’ve had a new emphasis on trying out their younger players on the roster.
Bona has been able to suit up for 11 of those games since, starting in five while averaging 26.5 minutes per game. With plenty of opportunity to show off his rim protecting ability, he’s averaged 2.5 blocks per game in that time, and grabbed 1.2 steals per game to boot.
His defensive ability is what will make him an NBA player. The encouraging signs he’s shown on the other end of the floor will make him a high quality player.
In those 11 games since the season flipped, Bona’s averaged 12.7 points per game with an effective field goal percentage of 71.4%. He’s also shot 76.9% from the free throw line in that time. This was capped off with a 28-point performance against the Milwaukee Bucks in which he posted a 13-of-15 shooting line.
Adem Bona in Sixers’ loss to Bucks: 28 points, 6 boards, 5 stocks, 13-15 FG shooting
He’s the 15th rookie center in NBA history to score 25 or more points on at least 85% FG shooting, per Stathead. Only 3 others had as many stocks. Heck of an effort
— Sam DiGiovanni (@BySamDiGiovanni) April 4, 2025
He is well aware of which end of the floor he is most needed on, but that hasn’t stopped him from trying to become a well-rounded player.
“Obviously, doing what I do defensive is huge, but to be able to chip in offensively,” he said after the Bucks game, “that’ll be big for me and for the team.”
Most of his scoring production has come as a play-finisher. His shot chart for the season still hardly reaches outside of the paint. He’s still had to figure out when and how to beat the defense to those spots. His development in that area has drawn praise from teammates and coaches.
After a 14-point performance against the Toronto Raptors, Nick Nurse praised his ability for getting open in the dunker spot, and wished his ball handlers had found him more.
“Some of those dump-off dunks that he had, there were probably another half a dozen to 10 of those available,” Nurse said. “I wish we would have kept finding him on those.”
His teammates in the backcourt have noticed him getting more comfortable in those areas, to everyone’s benefit.
“[I’m] getting more comfortable with him and the pick-and-roll,” Quentin Grimes said after the Bucks game, “but he just brings a lot of energy — that’s definitely a skill in this league.”
Despite a limited repertoire, Bona’s figured out a way to score besides catching lobs and dump-off passes. He seems to like faking a dribble hand-off, and using that deception and speed to get all the way to the basket.
It appears he’s gotten more comfortable going to that move, still being able to finish on plays like this when the defender stays home.
— JGrieb10film (@JGrieb10film) April 4, 2025
With DHOs so prevalent in this team’s offense, this has been a big development for his game. After the Raptors game, Nurse said a “safe pair of hands” in those actions is very important while praising Bona’s growth in that area.
Bona’s exceptional athleticism has gotten him a long way, but it has taken an exceptional work ethic to get him even further.
When Lonnie Walker IV spoke after the Raptors game about his extra workout sessions at night, Bona is always right there with him.
“The times that I’m in the gym at night, he’s in the gym, we see each other every single night when we go from the gym, and he works terrifically hard,” Walker said, “and his energy transfers on technique onto the court as well, and it’s contagious.”
Bona says those extra sessions have become a tradition for him, something he’s been doing since college. Being able to get more work in in a less crowded environment has helped him physically and mentally.
“I just feel like that’s more peaceful, more clear minded,” he said after the Raptors game, “it’s time to pay more attention to details.”
Just like Jared McCain’s emergence earlier in the year, the Sixers had to go through absolute hell to discover it, but they came away with two impressive rookies, and plenty of reasons to feel encouraged by their development.