Sixers select UCLA big man Adem Bona with 41st pick originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Sixers went with a big man on Day 2 of the 2024 NBA draft.
The team selected Adem Bona, a Nigerian center who averaged 12.4 points and 5.9 rebounds as a UCLA sophomore, at No. 41 overall.
Bona is not a stretch five; he made no three-pointers and hit 69.6 percent of his free throws last season. He’s slightly shorter than the average NBA center — 6-8.25 without shoes at the draft combine — but has a wingspan of nearly 7-4 and is a muscular 243 pounds.
The 21-year-old drew widespread praise from draft experts for his end-to-end hustle and defensive tools. Fouls were problematic for Bona, but he averaged 1.8 blocks and 1.1 steals, flew all around the floor, and won the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year award.
There isn’t a harder-playing prospect in this draft than Adem Bona. His combination of mobility, length, power, quickness off his feet and intensity gives him considerable defensive potential. He should be one of the first players off the board this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/bBai927yCH
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 27, 2024
On Day 1 of the draft, the Sixers selected Duke guard Jared McCain at No. 16. Going into Round 2, the 41st pick was their only one remaining.
Bona will join a team set to fill out most of its roster in the coming days. Outside of occasional small-ball options like Nicolas Batum and KJ Martin, the Sixers used Paul Reed and Mo Bamba as Joel Embiid’s main backups last year. Reed played in every game of the 2023-24 season but had a subpar first-round playoff series against the Knicks. His contract is non-guaranteed (with a salary of approximately $7.7 million) for next year.
While Bona doesn’t look like an offensively talented center with the skills to play alongside Embiid, we’ll see whether he’s able to become a defensively versatile, maximum-effort backup.
adem bona on being drafted by the sixers: “i’m so excited to be there. actually my older brother is a philly fan. he’s really excited right now, probably. he’s back home in nigeria watching. i can’t wait to be there, man. i’m also getting the opportunity to meet joel embiid.” pic.twitter.com/omHKfl137b
— James Herbert (@outsidethenba) June 27, 2024
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