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 MVP Joel Embiid, was lauded for his nearly 7-4 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-foot-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 a teenager 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.
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. Hardworking. Being in a position like this gives me the opportunity to represent myself very well.”
𝑨𝒅𝒆𝒎’𝒔 𝑵𝑩𝑨 𝑫𝒓𝒂𝒇𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕.
“With the 4⃣ 1⃣st 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
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