Coming off a rookie season for the Sixers in which he showed the kind of athleticism, energy and ability at both ends of the floor to become a rock-solid backup center, Adem Bona has been getting some extra experience this summer with his EuroBasket debut.
Playing for Turkey, Bona is off to a solid start through two games. And on Friday morning, as Turkey beat Czechia 92-78 for their second win in a row, Bona turned in a high-energy performance to finish with six points (3-of-6 shooting), two rebounds
and a +2. He also improved his composure — after picking up five fouls in the first game against Latvia on Wednesday, he had just one against Czechia.
Turkey was yet again led by their star, Alperen Sengun, who racked up an effortless 23 points on 8-of-9 shooting. He’s even got to spend some time playing alongside Bona in double-big lineups. Cedi Osman also added 21 points, after scoring 20 in game one against Latvia.
Sengun’s smooth overhead dish to Bona against Latvia is the pair’s flashiest highlight so far:
Turkey are now 2-0, taking a firm lead in Group A over Portugal, Czechia, Serbia, Latvia and Estonia.
Eurohoops interviewed Bona earlier in the tournament, and the young Sixer was rightfully excited about his EuroBasket opportunity:
“The atmosphere within the team is very good, and we have a great bond. The age balance is also very good; we’re a team made of experienced and young players. The bond between us is excellent, and our team chemistry, both on and off the court, is incredible. I’m very excited to be a part of this team. This will be my first EuroBasket, and it’s a huge achievement for me. So, I’m very excited.”
And even though it’s not exactly as big a deal as the real-life achievement of representing Turkey at EuroBasket, another fun moment for Bona this summer was picking up a ridiculously good block rating of 91 in NBA 2K26. It’s tied for the sixth-highest in the game, so Eurohoops asked for his reaction:
“It’s amazing for me. I’ve only been in the NBA for one season, and to get a rating like this after my first year shows how hard I’ve worked. It also shows the trust my team has in me and the opportunity they’ve given me. They’ve given me the chance to do my best. I think this rating is a testament to my hard work for the team. Of course, it’s also a testament to the team’s confidence in me.”
Following the Sixers over the last season has been hard, injury-riddled work. But there’s a lot of young exciting talent to look forward to watching next season, from Jared McCain’s return and new rookie VJ Edgecombe, to seeing what Bona can do in his sophomore year. Hopefully his EuroBasket run only increases his confidence as he builds on all the promise he showed in 2024-25.
Next up, Bona and Turkey face Portugal on Saturday, Aug. 30 at 2:15 pm EST.
