UCLA’s Adem Bona Takes the Next Step

The Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year has found his NBA home!

Former UCLA Bruins power forward/center Adem Bona has been selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 41st round of the 2024 NBA Draft. This marks a significant milestone in Bona’s career, as he becomes the latest in a long line of Bruins to make the leap to the NBA.

The 2024 NBA Draft saw Adem Bona’s name called by the Philadelphia 76ers.

When Bona was merely a freshman, he earned a starting berth on an upperclassman-loaded 2022-23 UCLA Bruins squad that finished with a 31-6 record (18-2 in the Pac-12) and made it all the way to the Sweet Sixteen in that spring’s March Madness run. Three of Bona’s fellow Bruins starters on that squad were selected in the subsequent 2023 NBA Draft, led by eventual All-Rookie First Team small forward Jaime Jaquez, who was picked at No. 18 by the Miami Heat.

Across 33 contests in 2023-24 for the 16-17 (10-10 in the conference) Bruins, Bona averaged NCAA career bests of 12.4 points (on 58.8 percent shooting from the floor and 69.6 percent shooting from the foul line), 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 steals a night.

“It’s unfair to expect that kind of upside out of Bona, who projects, at best, to be a solid role player. But it will be exciting to see how he performs this season nevertheless.”

Adem Bona’s impressive stats in his final season at UCLA.

Bona is just the latest in a long, legendary line of Bruins to leap to the league. In the current NBA, 12 other Bruins alums are rostered. Four of those UCLA products — Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Jrue Holiday, and Zach LaVine — have made All-Star teams. Each of those four has, in fact, made multiple All-Star berths.

UCLA Bruins have a long history of success in the NBA.

As Bona begins his NBA journey, fans will be eager to see how he performs this season. With his impressive stats and defensive prowess, he’s sure to make an impact in Philadelphia.