Bona's Return Date Keeps Landing on Game Day

By the 76ers Nightly Desk · Saturday, October 3

Philadelphia's preseason opens October 5 against the Knicks, which happens to be the exact date doctors are targeting for Adem Bona's return from his foot injury. Tacko Fall's hip issue won't clear until October 16, and the frontcourt battle those two are fighting over has already drawn skepticism from the beat.

76ers Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Does Adem Bona play in the preseason opener?

Bona is questionable with a foot injury that's also flagged in his leg, and his estimated return is October 5 — the exact date Philadelphia hosts the Knicks. Estimates slip. His case has already moved once since camp opened, so treat the date as a target, not a guarantee, until he's actually on the court.

What's the latest on Tacko Fall?

Fall is questionable with a hip issue on his left side, and his return is pegged for October 16, eleven days after Bona's target, right around Philadelphia's final preseason game against the Celtics. Two centers, two different clocks, and neither has played a minute yet.

Does Jalen Duren's extension say anything about Embiid's contract?

The Sixer Sense argued this week that Duren's new deal could reshape how the league values Embiid's $58.1 million salary, the largest on this roster, with Brown's $57.1 million right behind it. That's outside analysis, not a Sixers transaction, but it lands at a moment when every big man's price tag gets measured against this team's cap sheet.

Is the Bona-Hukporti backup center battle actually close?

The Sixer Sense wrote that Nick Nurse's early look at Ariel Hukporti has been hard to love, and the same outlet cautioned fans not to expect too much from Bona once he's back from his injury. Nurse hasn't named a backup center. Camp evaluations rarely settle anything this early, but the noise says neither option has separated yet.

Does this roster have enough depth after losing Lowry, Beauchamp and Martin?

Liberty Ballers asked that question outright this week, and it's fair: all three left on September 21, thinning the guard and wing rotation with no replacements logged since. Philadelphia is leaning on Philon, Love, Rupert and Edwards to cover those minutes. None of them has started an NBA season opener.

The verdictTwo centers on two different clocks, a rookie-heavy bench covering for three departed veterans, and outside analysts already arguing about what Embiid's deal is worth next to Duren's. October 5 was supposed to answer one question and now it's carrying two.

When will Adem Bona return for the 76ers?

His estimated return is October 5, which happens to be the date Philadelphia opens its preseason against the Knicks, though that date has already shifted once and isn't guaranteed.

When does Tacko Fall come back?

Fall's return is targeted for October 16, around Philadelphia's final preseason game, after a hip issue on his left side.