NBA
AB
#30

Adem Bona

Center · Philadelphia 76ers · 6'10", 235 lb · Born Mar 28, 2003 · Lagos, Nigeria · Drafted 41st overall, 2024
2024 Pac-12 DPOYRim protector🇳🇬 🇹🇷Energy center
NBAPhiladelphia 76ersCenters
Compare:vs Simonsvs Barlowvs Brownvs Embiidvs Edwardsvs Maxey
In short

Adem Bona is an athletic, shot-blocking center for the Philadelphia 76ers, born in Lagos, Nigeria, and a Turkish citizen. Drafted 41st overall in 2024 after two seasons at UCLA — where he was 2024 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year — he has developed into a high-motor, defense-first rotation big man who protects the rim and finishes efficiently at the basket.

Matchup model · next gameMedium confidenceTue, Nov 10
vsPhoenix SunsAggressive hedge & help
Proj. points
4.8
range 2.1–7.5
Line 5
47%
to go over
Team win
63%
116–113
Poi 4.8 Lean underReb 4.3 Lean underAss 0.5 Lean underPRA 9.6 Lean over
Likely on himMark Williams· 84 Rim protectionStrong defender
5+ pts47%10+ pts4%

Model lines Bona at 4.8 pts (range 2.1–7.5) vs a 5 line — roughly a coin flip to clear it (47%).

Biggest edge: venue — home floor — small boost.

Full matchup breakdown · all markets →
Balladex Matchup Model — modeled from real roster ratings, scoring baselines & defender-matchup history. Schedule, availability & head-to-head samples are illustrative in this prototype; production wires live schedule, injury & player-tracking feeds. Not betting advice.
✦ Ask anything about Bona
The Bona Story — narrated
Tap play to hear his story, told as a 90-second short.
🔊 Prototype uses your browser's built-in voice. Production would use a studio-grade AI narrator.

A Lagos-born, shot-blocking energy center — rim protection and efficient finishing for the 76ers.

Bona started basketball at 13, became a Turkish citizen, and starred at UCLA — 2024 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.

🇳🇬🇹🇷 UCLAPac-12 DPOY

Philadelphia drafted him 41st in 2024 as an athletic, defense-first center.

41st, 2024Energy big

He developed into a rotation center, posting a career-high 28 points.

28-pt highRim runner

His motor and rim protection give the 76ers frontcourt depth.

4-5 rpg · ~1 bpgBench energy
— end of story —
Want the full numbers? Open the breakdown →
PPG
4.8
2025-26
RPG
4.3
per game
APG
0.5
per game
FG%
.615
LIFE

Roots & the rise

An athletic, shot-blocking energy center — rim protection and efficient finishing for the 76ers.

Adem Bona was born in Lagos, Nigeria, grew up competing against two older brothers, and only started basketball at 13 after playing soccer. He became a Turkish citizen in 2018, represented Turkey internationally, and starred at Prolific Prep before two seasons at UCLA — earning 2024 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.

Philadelphia drafted him 41st overall in 2024, and he has developed into a high-motor rotation center who protects the rim and finishes efficiently. He posted a career-high 28 points in the 2024-25 season and provides energy and defense off the bench in the 76ers' frontcourt.

Sources: Wikipedia, NBA.com, Basketball-Reference, ESPN.

BEYOND THE GAME

Beyond the game

Bona's competitiveness was forged early — growing up in Lagos with two bigger older brothers, he says he 'got the stuff beaten out of me' in childhood soccer and basketball, shaping a physical, aggressive style. A dual Nigerian-Turkish athlete who represented Turkey at the youth level, he embodies the global reach of the modern NBA.

His identity is energy and effort — 'I bring the dog every day,' he has said — a rim-running, shot-blocking big who impacts games without needing the ball. He works after practice on his handle, touch, and passing, aiming to expand a game that is currently built on elite defense, athleticism, and efficient finishing near the basket.

PERSONALITY

The person

A high-motor defensive center — rim protection, athleticism, and efficient finishing.

Rim protector2024 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year; a shot-blocking presence.
High motor'I bring the dog every day' — energy and effort every possession.
Efficient finisherShot .621 at UCLA; scores mostly at the rim.
PLAYER DNA

Archetype & ratings

Archetype
Shot-Blocking Backup Center
Temperament
Spark
Leadership
58/100
Scoring49
Playmaking33
Rebounding76
Perimeter D60
Rim protection79
Spacing35
Athleticism70
Clutch59
a shot-blocking backup center
ANALYSIS

What the numbers say

Defense and efficiency

Bona's value is defensive — a 2024 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year whose rim protection, athleticism, and motor translate to the NBA as an energy backup center. He finishes efficiently near the basket (he shot .621 at UCLA) and scores without plays run for him, giving Philadelphia a cheap, effective frontcourt piece behind Embiid.

Room to grow

The developmental frontier is offense — his handle, touch, and range are limited, and he is working to expand them after practice. As a two-season NBA big he has proven a reliable rotation defender; broadening his offensive game would raise his ceiling from energy center to a more complete two-way big for the 76ers.

STATS

Season by season

Per game

SeasonGPMINPTSREBASTFG%3P%
2025-267117.44.84.30.5.615

Source: Basketball-Reference.

ADVANCED

Advanced & historical

Where he sits in history

2024Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year at UCLA
CollegeTwo-time All-Defensive and 2023 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year at UCLA
InternationalTurkish citizen; represented Turkey at the youth level

Hardware

1×
Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year (2024)
1×
Pac-12 Freshman of the Year (2023)
OUTLOOK

Where it's headed

AI-generated · updated July 13, 2026

A defense-first energy center on the rise — rim protection and efficient finishing for the 76ers.

Bona gives Philadelphia a cheap, high-motor backup center whose rim protection and athleticism are already NBA-caliber. He finishes efficiently at the basket and defends without needing the ball; expanding his handle, touch, and range is the next step toward a fuller two-way role.

Rim protectionStrong
Athleticism / motorElite
FinishingEfficient
Offensive rangeLimited

Contract

Draft
41st, 2024 rotation
Role
Backup center energy
Age
23 rising
Bottom line

A defensively disruptive, high-motor energy center who finishes efficiently. Cheap frontcourt depth behind Embiid, with room to grow his offensive game.

FAQ

Quick answers

What is Adem Bona's background?

He was born in Lagos, Nigeria, became a Turkish citizen in 2018, and represented Turkey internationally before starring at UCLA.

What is Adem Bona's biggest strength?

Defense — he was the 2024 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, a high-motor rim protector who also finishes efficiently near the basket.

When was Adem Bona drafted?

The Philadelphia 76ers selected him 41st overall in the 2024 NBA Draft out of UCLA.