Adem Bona Is the Backup Big Philadelphia Actually Needs

By the 76ers Nightly Desk · Saturday, October 17

Adem Bona was supposed to be the cheap rim protector covering for Ariel Hukporti's lost season, but a foot and leg issue has kept him out of camp with no clearance since September 17. At $2.3 million, he's the kind of production Philadelphia needs more of this season — if he ever gets on the floor to provide it.

Adem Bona of the 76ers — Adem Bona. Photo: Zafer, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

What exactly is Adem Bona's job on this roster?

Bona is the backup big, full stop. With Ariel Hukporti sidelined by a torn Achilles, Philadelphia's frontcourt behind Joel Embiid is thin — Dean Wade can slide up, but he's a stretch four by instinct. Bona's job is rebounding and rim protection in minutes Embiid can't play, something last season's 11.9 rebound percentage and 1.2 blocks per game say he can actually do.

Do last season's numbers hold up?

They're modest but efficient. Bona averaged 4.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in 17.4 minutes across 71 games, shooting 59.5 percent from the floor and 70.8 percent from the line. A 10.8 percent usage rate means he's not being asked to create anything — he's a put-back-and-defend guy, and a 63.8 percent true shooting mark says he finishes what gets to him.

What do the advanced numbers say about his fit?

His 113.1 offensive rating paired with a 112.9 defensive rating produced a 0.3 net rating last season — barely positive, but positive on a team that finished the year at -0.1 overall. That gap matters now: Philadelphia needs bench minutes that don't bleed the lead, and Bona's per-minute defensive numbers say he's one of the few frontcourt options who doesn't.

Where does the foot injury leave him for the opener?

He's been sidelined with a foot and leg issue since September 17, with no update in a month. The estimated return date on file is October 20 — the same day Philadelphia opens the regular season on the road against the Knicks. That timing lines up almost too well to call it settled; until he's actually cleared, it's a target date, not a guarantee.

What does his contract say about where he fits long-term?

Bona is making $2.3 million this season, with a $2.5 million team option for 2027-28 — the cheapest multi-year piece on a heavy veteran roster. That number isn't an accident: Philadelphia's two-year commitment says the front office still wants him as the long-term answer behind Embiid, not just a placeholder until Hukporti heals.

The verdictBona doesn't need to score — he needs to log the minutes behind Embiid that nobody else on this roster is built to log, starting with however many games his foot allows in October.

How much is Adem Bona's contract worth?

He's making $2.3 million in 2026-27, with a $2.5 million team option for 2027-28.

Is Adem Bona injured right now?

Yes — he's been out since September 17 with a foot and leg issue, with an estimated return of October 20.

By the 76ers Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.