At this point in the offseason, Adem Bona has put himself in a pretty strong position to open the 2026-2027 NBA season as Joel Embiid’s backup. But the job is far from locked in, and that’s exactly why the third-year center has a little extra to prove when training camp rolls around.
One recent workout clip he shared on Instagram offered a clue about where his game may be headed: more shooting range. Bona appeared to be testing out a new wrinkle that could make him more useful in Nick Nurse’s system, and maybe even follow a path similar to Andre Drummond’s surprising stretch-five experiment.
Bona has already done enough to earn real consideration. The Sixers have seen him grow into a rotation piece over two seasons, and injuries helped open the door early.
As a rookie, he played in 58 games and logged 15.6 minutes a night. In his second season, he took another step, appearing in 71 games while averaging 17.4 minutes and starting 18 times.
He also saw playoff action in 10 games, with three starts, and averaged 9.6 minutes.
That kind of usage is enough to tell the Sixers he belongs in the mix. It also leaves the team with a real decision behind Embiid, especially with a roster that suggests bigger ambitions this season.
Nurse has shown from the start that he’s comfortable with centers who can stretch the floor. He was open to that idea with Paul Reed, and he gave Andre Drummond the same freedom when Drummond wanted to try a stretch-five role.
Drummond’s numbers show just how unusual that shift was. From 2012 to 2025, he attempted only 140 threes in 904 games, which works out to 10.8 per season.
Then in 2025-2026, he suddenly launched 90 threes and made them at a 35.6% clip. Bona has barely touched that part of the game so far, with just seven threes across his first two seasons, so any added range would be a notable development.
Still, a few jumpers in a workout video won’t be enough on their own. Bona’s next step has to come in the areas that matter most for a backup center: cleaner play around the rim and fewer fouls. That work will start once the Sixers get back in the gym before camp.
And he won’t be alone in that fight. This fall, Bona will be battling Ariel Hukporti and Johni Broome for the minutes behind Embiid.
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