Bona's Setback Just Made Ariel Hukporti a Real Question

By the 76ers Nightly Desk · Sunday, September 20

Adem Bona and Caldwell-Pope are both aiming for an October 1 return, with no hard word yet on whether either makes it through camp untouched. That leaves Ariel Hukporti's readiness — a question Hoops Rumors raised this morning — as the closest thing to real news before the October 20 opener at the Knicks.

76ers Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Is Adem Bona going to be ready for training camp?

Bona's sprain has him targeting an October 1 return, which lines up with the start of camp but leaves no cushion. He picked up the injury at FIBA World Cup qualifiers, per the Philadelphia Inquirer's DeAntae Prince, and Liberty Ballers already flagged it as exposing thin depth at center.

Who plays center if Bona isn't full speed?

Ariel Hukporti. Hoops Rumors' Arthur Hill asked this morning whether he's ready for expanded minutes, and The Sixer Sense floated the same idea earlier this week, calling Bona's setback a chance to get early answers on Hukporti. Nothing is settled — it's a question two outlets are asking, not a decision Nick Nurse has made.

What about Caldwell-Pope?

He's dealing with a finger and arm issue on the right side, also targeting an October 1 return. Two rotation regulars sidelined at once thins Nurse's options before a single exhibition game tips off, and camp opens around the same week, leaving little margin for a setback.

When does actual basketball start?

Preseason opens October 5 against the Knicks, with stops at the Nets on October 8 and at Boston on October 10, then a rematch with the Celtics at home on October 16. The regular season begins October 20 at Madison Square Garden, carried on NBC and Peacock.

How much room does Bob Myers actually have to work with?

Philadelphia's $213.2 million payroll sits above the $209.0 million first apron and within reach of the $221.7 million second, with Embiid ($58.1M), Brown ($57.1M) and Maxey ($40.8M) carrying the biggest numbers. That's a tight ceiling for Bob Myers to patch frontcourt depth before camp opens.

The verdictNothing here is a crisis — it's two injury clocks and a depth question, all pointing at the same date. October 1 decides whether Bona and Caldwell-Pope walk into camp clean or the Hukporti question becomes an actual plan.

Is Adem Bona going to miss the start of the season?

No indication of that — his target is October 1, well before the October 20 opener at the Knicks, though camp could still test it.

Did the 76ers sign LeBron James this offseason?

Yes, a two-year, $8 million deal signed July 27, 2026, joining a frontcourt led by Joel Embiid and a backcourt anchored by Tyrese Maxey.