The 76ers drafted UCLA center Adem Bona with the 41st overall selection in the 2024 NBA Draft.
The Philadelphia 76ers entered the second day of the 2024 NBA Draft with the 41st overall pick. Although their own second-rounder was revoked due to previous tampering charges, they still had a solid pick to add more young talent or utilize in a trade.
Daryl Morey said that he likes the new draft format, as splitting up the two rounds into their own respective days spreads out the major decisions that play out. The 76ers were involved in a lot of trade discussions, Morey said after the conclusion of the first round, but ended up landing a prospect that the team believes can be a helpful player now and someone who develops further in the future.
After selecting sharp-shooting, hard-playing Duke guard Jared McCain with the 16th overall pick last night, the 76ers drafted UCLA big man Adem Bona with their second-round pick. The 21-year-old enjoyed a decorated two seasons with the Bruins and will bring his high-flying style of play to Philadelphia.
Draft grade for 76ers’ Adem Bona selection: B
Getting any good player makes for a good use of a second-round pick but that’s especially the case with the Sixers, whose roster is barren aside from Joel Embiid and a few young players (plus Tyrese Maxey, who will eventually sign a contract extension). Bona, in the most optimistic outcome, most likely won’t become more than a solid rotation player. But he also will have a better chance to become that than a lot of other second-round selections.
Bona started two seasons for UCLA, averaging 12.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 58.8 percent from the field in his second season. The native of Ebonyi, Nigeria won the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year award last season and was the conference’s Rookie of the Year the prior year. Standing roughly 6-foot-9 with a wingspan of nearly 7-foot-4, Bona is a great athlete who plays really hard. His 40-inch max vertical leap and 3.15-second three-quarter sprint at the draft combine underscores his incredible mobility.
In his post-selection interview on the ESPN broadcast, Bona reflected on the influence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who also hails from a Nigerian family, on his game. “I think you are probably gonna see a lot of Giannis in me — relentless, do everything for his team to win, hard-working,” he said.
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
Although Bona is quite prone to turnovers and isn’t likely to contribute a ton on offense beyond finishing shots at the rim and crashing the glass, he did double his assist percentage over his two collegiate seasons (5.7 percent to 11.6 percent) while posting a block percentage of at least 8.8 percent in each campaign. He also showed the ability to blow by slower big men and finish at the rim with authority. He drew his fair share of shooting fouls and shot 69.6 percent from the foul line, which isn’t too bad for a center.
Bona’s defense is the more appealing side of his game. His quickness and length make him a versatile defender who can cover a lot of ground. The bigger, faster, stronger, better competition in the NBA will challenge him when he’s trying to protect the rim but he can get high off the ground and catch up to players who get a step on him. Bona moves his feet pretty well on the perimeter, too, though he will also have to overcome the tendency to get into foul trouble that all young bigs do.
Not only does Bona play well on the court but he has a lot to play for. He is proud to represent his family and his home country. He told reporters at the draft that his older brother is a Sixers fan.
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
While Bona is a bit undersized for a center — and still has to prove himself in the NBA — he makes Paul Reed much more expendable. Philly’s current backup center makes $7 million next season but his contract is non-guaranteed, making it easier to trade him or waive him should they need more cap room. While it would be massively risky to trade Reed and assume Bona can become a reliable backup right away, it gives Philly an even cheaper option behind Embiid — and one that, like Reed, is very mobile and plays with a non-stop motor.
Given that the 76ers were picking in the middle of the second round, betting on a relatively safe archetype — an athletic, rim-running, paint-defending center — is a sensible move. Adem Bona has the athletic juice and the drive to make it in the NBA, though he hasn’t shown other high-level skills like shooting or playmaking that could make him more than a role player.
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