The NBA preseason is an opportunity for franchises to slowly and safely build up the fitness of their roster in an attempt to be ready for the gruelling campaign that awaits them. But in the case of the Philadelphia 76ers, head coach Nick Nurse can utilize the 2025 Abu Dhabi games to fix the rebounding issues that his team has endured throughout previous campaigns.
Experimenting with an athletic duo of V.J. Edgecombe and Adem Bona in the front-court could pay dividends when the regular season finally commences. The versatility that both upcoming players possess provides the Sixers roster with a different dimension and dynamism that was not available during the 2024-25 season.
Edgecombe and Bona front-court pairing is worth the risk
Given the inexperience of Edgecombe and Bona, it would be a huge gamble for the 76ers to attempt this feat. The latter of the pairing showed during his rookie year that his energy on defense and ruthless nature around the rim are valuable tools for Philadelphia; however, his propensity to foul his opponents is an issue he must work on — especially if the position he is occupying is one he is not accustomed to.
Much like Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bona's length and wingspan would not only create a nightmare for the defensive team, but these physical perks give him an advantage in the battle of the boards, something that the Sixers must address if they are to classify themselves as a championship contender.
Adding a fearless rookie to the mix in Edgecombe would only solidify Philadelphia's efforts to solve the issue that has plagued them for countless campaigns. Standing at six feet and five inches, the 20-year-old Baylor alum averaged 5.6 rebounds per game throughout his year in the NCAA.
Nick Nurse has already stated on media day that he expects the rookie to play both as a guard and forward during his inaugural campaign -- something that could alter from day to day depending on the 76ers' injury woes.
In addition, Nurse's declaration that the franchise will utilise its deep backcourt depth by fielding four guards in the same rotation may also suggest that Edgecombe will be trusted to play a high percentage of minutes during his first year in the league.
There is no doubt that combining the abilities of V.J. Edgecombe and Adem Bona would be a risk for the Philadelphia 76ers; nevertheless, there will not be a better time for Nick Nurse to experiment with his lineups than the Abu Dhabi games versus the New York Knicks.