# Adem Bona's make-or-break year in Philly

> Year three is here, and the Sixers' backup center has to prove he is more than blocks and hustle.
- Title: Adem Bona's make-or-break year in Philly · PhillyVoice
- Summary: Year three is here, and the Sixers' backup center has to prove he is more than blocks and hustle. Bona can keep his rotation spot if he stops being a…
- Keywords: sixers, nba, adem bona, lebron james, player preview, news, local, Adem, Bona's, make-or-break, year, Philly
- Source: PhillyVoice — https://phillyvoice.com/sixers-news-analysis-adem-bona-stats-contract-interview-highlights-career-nba-rumors-roster-press-conference
- Published: 2026-09-15T12:57:22.904+00:00
- Read time: 3 min
- Topics: sixers, nba, adem bona, lebron james, player preview, news, local
## Two years of flashes
Adem Bona has spent two seasons mixing real promise with errors that make coaches wince. Season three is when the picture has to come together.

> The Sixers cannot wait any longer for Adem Bona's development to accelerate.
## A dream Philly summer
New President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey flipped an apathetic fan base. He traded Paul George for five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown and stacked depth around the core.
## LeBron is a Sixer
James joins Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe in one of the most talented starting fives in recent NBA history. Philadelphia is a full-blown contender.
## Bona's spot is contested
Ariel Hukporti is now in the mix for the primary backup center job behind Embiid. Bona has to give the staff a reason to keep choosing him.
## Elite blocks, little else
Bona ranks among the league's best shot-blockers, but he offers almost no offensive utility and has not settled in as a defensive rebounder.
## The unforced errors
Fouls far from the basket, uncoordinated charges into the lane, bad hands. Fans tired of waiting point at the mistakes first.
## The rebounding number
With Bona on the floor last season, the Sixers grabbed 67.7 percent of opponent misses, per DataBallr. That rate would have ranked tied for 27th in the NBA.
## Without him, it flips
With Bona off the floor, the Sixers rebounded 70.3 percent of opposing misses, a mark that would have tied for eighth-best in the league.
## Not all his fault
Defensive rebounding is a team job, and Bona was not the only culprit in Philadelphia's struggles. But he does not do enough elsewhere to survive being weak on the glass.

> Bona does not provide enough value elsewhere to get away with not being a strong rebounder.
## Undersized for the job
His 6-foot-10 listing is generous and he is listed at 235 pounds, down from 243 at the 2024 Draft Combine. Muscle will never be his edge inside.
## Length, motor, lift
A wingspan near 7-foot-4 plus rare athleticism make him one of the more explosive bigs in the league. If anything, he plays with too much effort.
## Hustle wins minutes
He is already a strong offensive rebounder, and he can hold a rotation spot on energy plays and blocks. One night against Golden State he scored 10 points on five shots in six minutes.
## Timing you cannot teach
Bona's instinct for swatting shots is innate. Pair that with respectable defensive rebounding and he is unquestionably worth backup center minutes.
## Finally, a lob thrower
After two years as a lob threat with nobody to feed him, Bona gets to roll for one of the best alley-oop passers ever. Nick Nurse wants him mastering just a few things.
## Trust is the real test
James has to believe in him. Recall Paul Reed losing out to DeAndre Jordan because James Harden preferred the veteran, and the risk becomes obvious.
## The February deadline looms
Whether Bona still gets rotation minutes after the trade deadline may come down to one thing: can he stop missing open passing lanes and rushing into moving screens?

> Can Bona answer the call?
## Key takeaway

Bona can keep his rotation spot if he stops being a liability on the defensive glass and earns LeBron James' trust in the pick-and-roll.