PHILADELPHIA -- When the 2024-25 season commenced, the idea for Philadelphia 76ers rookie Adem Bona was just to sit back and learn from the likes of Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond. Little did he know that he would be getting starter's minutes in March and April due to injuries.
Bona had 18 points, six rebounds, and three blocks in Friday's 124-110 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. He shot 8-for-9 from the floor and played 30 minutes as he continues to take steps forward on the offensive end of the floor. He entered the contest shooting 73.3% from the floor in his previous six games prior to this one so the increase in offense is apparent.
It helps that he is receiving a ton of minutes in order to make those strides as a player.
"This is big," Bona said of his minutes. "Going into next year, it’s going to help me kickstart next year, you know. Now, the team trusts me a little bit. They know Bona is going to protect the rim. They know Bona is going to run the floor. He’s going to set screens, so it just helps me carry it over to next year."
The increase in minutes has led to an increase in confidence on the offensive end. He has done a terrific job of being able to produce in the pick-and-roll game as he has grown with Jared Butler, Lonnie Walker IV, and others out on the perimeter. He has done an excellent job of being able to set a screen and then roll to the basket hard which leads to easy looks.
"I would say the number one thing is that my confidence has been up a bit," Bona stated. "I would say the trust from my teammates and the coaching staff also helps contribute to my offensive game. Passing. Like the pick-and-roll with Jared Butler. The dump-off to Lonnie. The fake hand-off. Those are some things I’ve been working on with the coaching staff. It’s just time and confidence and trust that helps contribute to all that."
When Bona heads into the summer and prepares for his second NBA season, it will be helpful for him to look back and see the production he has been able to give in his rookie season. No matter what, this has been a successful rookie season for the second-rounder out of UCLA.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers rookie Adem Bona talks minutes, offensive confidence increase
