Sixers rookie Adem Bona talks biggest NBA lesson, reps needed to grow

PHILADELPHIA -- When the 2024-25 season opened, the Philadelphia 76ers were expected to compete for a championship for the first time since they reached the finals in 2001.

Instead, it has been an injury-riddled disaster as they sit at 22-44 following a loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday at home. Philadelphia, who was without Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George, is continuing to rely on younger players who were not expected to play heavy minutes when the season opened.

Adem Bona, for example, is a rookie big man who played 33:36 on Friday. That is not what most expected from the big man out of UCLA when the season opened in October, but there are lessons he has learned along the way.

"I would say, for me personally, I would say patience, you know?" Bona said. "I just gotta wait for when my name is gonna be called up. And also, stay ready when your name is called up, you have to show up. So staying patient and being ready. I would say those are the two biggest lessons for me."

These reps are all important for Bona down the stretch of the season. With Embiid, obviously, out for the year and Andre Drummond dealing with his own ailments, the center minutes will go to Bona as he continues to work his way through his first season in the league. He continues to talk with his guards and that has helped him as a player as well.

"Like all the reps I've gotten," Bona stated. "I don't think it changed much. It's just more being I'm getting reps for like guys on the floor. Sharing the flow with different players, building a connection with them. I think that just makes it easier for me, because now I'm talking to JB (Jared Butler) a little bit more. I'm talking with Jeff (Dowtin Jr.), and like, Jeff knows what I'm gonna do. I know what Jeff might do. So just just a little chemistry just makes it a little bit easier and makes it more comfortable for me on the floor."

While most might look at the final 16 games for the Sixers as nothing more than just playing out the string, Bona is looking at these final games as an opportunity to grow in this league and prepare for the future.

"Every single minute is big for me," he finished. "I haven't been getting much earlier in the year. This is my opportunity to show what I can do. So every single minute is huge for me. Unfortunately, we have guys injured, but I gotta take advantage of the opportunity. So every minute is huge for me."

Bona and the Sixers will take on the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday afternoon to kick off a 6-game road trip.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers rookie Adem Bona talks biggest NBA lesson, reps needed to grow

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