CAMDEN, N.J. -- The Philadelphia 76ers welcomed Adem Bona back to the practice floor as the third-year big man is looking to get back healthy and help the Sixers in the 2026-27 season. Bona missed the entire preseason due to a foot sprain he suffered shortly before training camp.
An energetic and bouncy big man, Bona averaged 4.8 points and 4.3 rebounds along with 1.2 blocks in 71 games in 2025-26. In two seasons in the NBA, the No. 41 pick of the 2024 draft has been terrific in terms of protecting the rim and being a real defensive presence.
Being able to get back out there with his teammates is important to Bona.
"It's just been great," Bona smiled. "Getting back out there, working with the team, had amazing practices with the team. It's just been great. I'm feeling good. Excited to get back out there. Yeah, it's been looking good for me."
Now, the question is whether he'll be ready to go for the season opener on Tuesday against the defending champion New York Knicks.
"Yeah, I mean, it's gonna come down to the coaches and the medical staff," Bona explained. "But it’s day-to-day."
It's tough for the Sixers at the moment in terms of the backup big man spot. Philadelphia lost free agent addition Ariel Hukporti in the preseason opener after he ruptured his Achilles. Bona and Hukporti were going to handle the backup center duties, but Philadelphia will have to make do with Bona and two-way big man Tacko Fall.
"I mean, losing a teammate, it's never good to see that," Bona stated. "But as like you said, from a basketball perspective, we all looked at ourselves because it's not just me. There's so many guys. Everyone has to step up, not just the bigs. Also, the guards, because now they're gonna have to play a different role, have to play a different style, because we're missing a big. So it's not just me. I think everyone has to step up and like adjust to missing one more big."
The Sixers will open the season at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers' Adem Bona gives health update, reacts to losing Ariel Hukporti