A new Bruin is headed to the NBA.
UCLA center Adem Bona was selected 41st overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the NBA draft on Thursday.
Bona, 21, who will look to serve as a backup center to former league MVP Joel Embiid, was lauded for his nearly 7-foot-4 wingspan and a 40-inch vertical jump at the draft combine. In 66 career college games, he used his athleticism to play above the rim defensively and offensively.
However, he had to wait until day two to hear his name called, as the first round was held on Wednesday.
The 6-8, 243-pound big man, grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, and represents Turkey in international competition.
“It means the world to me,” Bona said during the ESPN broadcast. “I represent a lot of people. I represent two countries. I know back home they are really proud of me. It means everything for me to be standing here right now.”
Bona, a high-energy player, who did not begin playing basketball until he was 13 is still developing his offensive game. He had two more years of college eligibility but elected to forego that option and entered this year’s draft.
“We are all thrilled to see Adem selected, as he has worked very hard for this moment,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. “The 76ers are getting a talented, hard-working and driven young man who will be an asset to their organization.
“All of us at UCLA loved being around Adem every day. He is a humble and caring person, and I truly believe he has only scratched the surface in terms of his basketball potential and development. We look forward to watching him thrive in Philadelphia, and we will be cheering for him every step of the way.”
As a sophomore, Bona averaged 12.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots per game. Bona earned first-team All-Pac 12 honors and was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. He finished his UCLA career ranked sixth in program history in blocked shots (115). During his two years, he earned Pac-12 All-Defensive honors in 2023 and 2024 and was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.
Bona’s journey to the NBA was a two-year process. He declared for the draft after his freshman season. However, he withdrew his name while rehabilitating his surgically repaired torn shoulder labrum and stayed for his sophomore season, becoming the Bruins’ go-to player.
“I think you are probably going to see a lot of Giannis (Antetokounmpo) in me,” Bona continued. “Athleticism. Do everything for his team to win. Hard-working. Being in a position like this gives me the opportunity to represent myself very well.”
Bona is the first player drafted by the 76ers since Jonah Bolden was selected No. 36 overall in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft. Bona is the fourth UCLA player taken in the past two seasons, joining his former teammates Jaime Jaquez Jr., Amari Bailey and Jaylen Clark (2023 selections) in the NBA.
𝑨𝒅𝒆𝒎'𝒔 𝑵𝑩𝑨 𝑫𝒓𝒂𝒇𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕.
“With the 4️⃣ 1️⃣st pick in the 2024 NBA Draft …”
📺 courtesy of ESPN, currently airing live pic.twitter.com/thdzFrGm03
— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) June 27, 2024
𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐌 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐀 ⏩ 𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐏𝐇𝐈𝐀
Congratulations to 𝐀𝐝𝐞𝐦 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐚, being selected No. 41 in the 2024 @NBADraft by the Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers).#NBABruins 🏀 pic.twitter.com/sHjSJruqSH
— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) June 27, 2024
with the 41st overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers select…
ADEM BONA! pic.twitter.com/RLacwHoolJ— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) June 27, 2024
