When Philadelphia 76ers fans discussed Adem Bona’s potential for the last year-and-a-half, there was always an elephant in the room: foul trouble. It’s been just two games, but the second-year center has made progress in this regard that could be crucial in the long term.
Bona accumulated only five personal fouls in his last two contests, allowing him to remain on the floor for longer periods. An extended opportunity has allowed him to showcase his talents on both ends of the court. Joel Embiid’s uncertain availability and Andre Drummond’s resurgence have complicated the 76ers’ center rotation, but by avoiding foul trouble, Bona is beginning to rediscover his place in it.
It began in Philadelphia’s 129-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday evening.
Drummond started in Embiid’s place, who was unavailable due to a sprained right ankle and right knee injury management. The shift in pecking order promoted Bona to the 76ers’ primary reserve center, an opportunity he took full advantage of in the first half. The sophomore accumulated eight points on 2-3 shooting from the field and two blocks through two quarters.
Bona found success soaring for lob passes out of pick-and-rolls and providing energetic help defense, the two aspects that made him compelling when Philadelphia drafted him in 2024. He played 11 minutes in the first half because he limited himself to just one personal foul. Bona’s discipline issue aside, that’s an impressive feat when facing a size disadvantage against Chet Holmgren and inferior physicality to Isaiah Hartenstein. Although he managed just three points and tallied two fouls in the second half, the first two quarters proved the center’s capabilities when playing clean defense.
His performance seemingly impressed Nick Nurse, as his adjustment in the 76ers’ following game certainly indicated. Bona retained the backup big role in the 76ers’ 139-136 overtime win against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night. Except this time, Embiid played.
Nurse put Drummond on ice while Bona received 26 minutes where he totaled four points, six rebounds, two steals and only two fouls. Though Memphis lacked Zach Edey (ankle), it still ranks fifth league-wide in total rebounds per game, making Bona’s foul discipline and glass cleaning all the more impressive. He provided his usual two-way impact, but also shared the floor with Embiid. His athleticism served Embiid well, with improved rim protection and rebounding.
A two-game sample size won’t triumph over Bona’s season-long foul troubles, but it’s undoubtedly a step in the right direction. This development could be critical as Drummond’s $5-million contract will expire at the season’s end and Embiid’s health remains uncertain, but hopeful.