Adem Bona’s entire outlook for the 2026-27 season just flipped on its head, and we haven’t even hit opening night yet. Seriously, just days after the Sixers’ media day, one of their few centers, Ariel Hukporti, got ruled out for the *entire season* with an Achilles tear. Are you kidding me? This team finds itself with paper-thin depth at center yet again. It’s the same old song and dance, right?
The Sixers Are Scrambling, And Options Are Wild
Replacing Hukporti isn’t going to be easy at all. We already knew the Sixers were lacking traditional center size and skill off the bench behind Joel Embiid. Now it’s screamingly obvious. What are the options? Well, they might have to get super experimental and just downsize more often. If Dominick Barlow can stay healthy, he could get some minutes at the 5 to bring athleticism and switchability on defense. Jabari Walker is another smaller guy who’s apparently having a strong preseason, so that’s something. Can you believe Nick Nurse even mentioned LeBron James spending some time at center? Even Dean Wade could be an option right now, Nurse said. They also have an open two-way spot, which could be used, but honestly, you have to look straight at the other big man who, in theory, could tick all the boxes for a typical backup center: Adem Bona.
Bona’s Big Moment: Strengths, Flaws, And The Consistency Question
Bona himself has been battling back from an injury. He picked up a foot sprain last month playing for Türkiye in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. But at media day, he said recovery and treatment have been going really well, and he’s already back on court doing some work. The Sixers put a timeline on him to be back in action by two weeks into training camp, and they’re still on track for that.
And look, when Bona is on, he really does look like a legit NBA backup. The kid has a great motor, stellar speed and agility for a 6-foot-10 guy, and the lateral quickness to actually switch onto smaller players. He’s solid on offensive rebounds, can be an explosive finisher with thunderous dunks at times, and he’s got clear shot-blocking talent. His 1.2 blocks in just 17.4 minutes per game last season? That’s impressive. He even ranked ninth in the entire NBA in blocks per 100 possessions at 3.2!
But man, the flaws are still glaring. His hands aren’t great when he’s trying to operate in the paint on offense. And for a big guy, it’s bizarre how much he struggles with defensive rebounding. Plus, he still makes some blatant errors, from bad positioning to picking up silly fouls at a high rate. This is his third NBA season, and the biggest challenge for Bona now is proving he can be consistent. With Hukporti gone for the year, the Sixers are absolutely going to need it from him.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Liberty Ballers.
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