PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia 76ers rookie Adem Bona was a nice surprise in what was a dreadful 2024-25 season for the Sixers. Expected to contend for a championship, the Sixers instead went 24-58 and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
Bona, a second-round pick out of UCLA, averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 58 games with 11 starts in his maiden NBA season. He played much more than he would have expected at the beginning of the season and was able to take big steps forward throughout the season.
Andre Drummond, who was limited to 40 games due to a toe issue, took Bona under his wing from the start of training camp and gave his thoughts on what made him so successful.