EuroBasket is finally coming to a close as the reigning world champions, Germany, will face off against Turkey. It will be the Sacramento Kings' veteran Dennis Schroder and the Houston Rockets' up-and-coming superstar, Alperen Sengun, who lead the charge for their respective nations.
Turkey lit up the floor during their Semifinal match-up against Giannis Antetokounmpo and his Greek teammates, defeating their European rivals 68-94, with Sengun registering a double-double in the process (15 points and 12 rebounds).
Of course, it will always be the players who record the highest point tally who will receive the majority of the plaudits — and deservedly so. However, role players who can make a substantial impact are integral to winning championships.
Thanks to the Turkish national team and the way they have utilized a young rim protector, the Philadelphia 76ers have been provided with a solution to a major issue that has haunted the franchise for several seasons.
Philadelphia finally has an impactful defensive bench player
Due to his performances in EuroBasket -- and a fine string of cameos during his rookie year -- Adem Bona has showcased that he can establish himself as an important member of the 76ers' roster, especially on the defensive end of the floor.
One glaringly obvious weakness in recent campaigns for the Sixers has been their ability to stop the bleeding during minutes when their franchise star, Joel Embiid, is taking a much-needed rest. Or in many cases, is sidelined by another devastating injury.
Without the 2023 Most Valuable Player on the floor, Philadelphia doesn't just struggle offensively, but their defensive game plan becomes as useful as a chocolate fireguard. Nevertheless, Bona has shown promise of becoming an elite rim-protector, whether that be as a rotational piece in place of Embiid, or in an experimental forward role.
The 22-year-old sophomore has provided Turkey with boundless energy on both offense and defense during his appearances from the bench. Despite only averaging 12.7 minutes over eight games, Bona has registered a total of eight blocks -- three of which were recorded against a plucky Sweden side.
This is far from an anomaly when it comes to the UCLA graduate, as he was named the 2023-24 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in college. During his rookie campaign, he established himself as one of the most exciting shot swatters in the league, but this reputation did not come without its caviats.
If the 76ers' 2024 second-round selection is to become an essential part of the Sixers roster, he must cut needless fouls out of his game. This is even more relevant if his cameos are going to come at the expense of Andre Drummond -- who himself will be desperate to prove himself after a woeful return to Philadelphia last year. Bona has accumulated 16 fouls during his debut in EuroBasket, something that will restrict his time on the court this season if it is not rectified.
Adem Bona has proven that he can make a winning defensive contribution from the bench for his national team, but will his inexperience and susceptibility to fouling cause general manager Daryl Morey to sign a more experienced face to the final roster spot?