NBA Draft Scouting Report: UCLA’s Adem Bona

Scouting Report: Adem Bona

Contents

1. Prospect Profile
2. Highlights
3. Draft Projection
4. 2024 Big Board

Adem Bona

Forward | UCLA 

Height: 6’10” | Weight: 235 lbs

2024 Draft Age: 21.24

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Prospect Profile

A raw, but strong and physical big, Bona’s draft stock is difficult to pin down. He declared for the 2023 NBA Draft, but withdrew to come back for another college season to increase his stock. The big faced injuries during his freshman season, then had surgery to repair a torn labrum which means he couldn't participate in pre-draft workouts.

Offensively, most of Bona’s shots come in the paint. In fact, he dunks nearly everything he gets his hands on. He uses his strength to overpower defenders and get a shot near the rim. He’s got good hands and is effective when catching the ball on the block. 

With that in mind, the 6-foot-10 forward also has good footwork and solid moves off the dribble. He’s got an effective spin move he likes to use in the paint and overall is very quick for his size. This has proven to be helpful in his transition game. He’s a quick leaper that explodes to the rim and has the ability to finish with either hand.

While Bona isn’t a 3-point shooter at this point, his midrange jumper is respectable. It certainly isn’t a strength in his offensive game, but is something he’s improved on. Although his free throw shooting isn’t good, you can see a world in which he ultimately develops into a perimeter shooter down the road. Again, he’s still a raw prospect. As a freshman, he didn't take any shots from beyond the arc.

On the defensive end, Bona is a good shot blocker and overall rim protector. He’s got a good combination of length and bounce that allows him to alter shots regularly. He’s also good in pick-and-roll defense given how much ground he can cover.

With that in mind, the UCLA prospect does rely on his athleticism too much at times. He’s prone to fouls and isn’t the best within a system, which is why it was good to see him in a college scheme as it relates to team defense.

Bona plays with a ton of energy and effort, which results in him making a ton of positive plays simply by outworking his opponent. He’s a traditional big which does limit his upside some in the modern NBA, but he does have the versatility to play either power forward or center.

He was born in Nigeria, but has spent most of his time playing in Turkey. Bone didn’t start playing organized basketball until his early teens, right around the time he moved to Turkey to play. He became a Turkish citizen in 2018 and then joined Prolific Prep in California back in 2020.

The former five-star recruit still represents Turkey in FIBA events. At the college level, he has been able to play alongside another five-star recruit in Amari Bailey at UCLA. Given how raw he is, will be interesting to see how quickly Bona develops moving forward. 

Highlights

Draft Projection

First-Round Pick in 2024 NBA Draft.

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2024 Big Board

Want to know more about other potential 2024 NBA Draft prospects and where they might get selected? Check out our Draft Digest Big Board.

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