Adem Bona Steps Into Bigger Role as 76ers Prep for Magic
PHILADELPHIA — adem bona is preparing for a major test on Wednesday night, with the Philadelphia 76ers set to face the Orlando Magic in the 7 vs. 8 play-in tournament without Joel Embiid. Embiid underwent an emergency appendectomy on April 9, leaving Philadelphia to lean on other players to fill the gap. Bona is expected to play a big role as the game tips at 7: 30 p. m. ET at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Adem Bona ready for the moment
Adem Bona enters the postseason in his second NBA season after averaging 4. 8 points, 4. 3 rebounds, and 1. 2 blocks in 71 games in the 2025-26 regular season. He said he has been focused on the opportunity in front of him and the chance to play major minutes in a play-in game.
“I feel really excited, ” Bona said. “I think I’ve been zeroing in on the opportunity that I have in front of me to be able to potentially be playing huge minutes in a play-in game. I think that’s real exciting. As a year 2 player, that’s a huge opportunity for me. So, Joel being out, we’re going to try and fill the void he left as much as possible and help the team at the top level. ”
What Philadelphia needs without Embiid
The 76ers will need someone to absorb the physical burden Embiid usually carries, and Bona said that starts with playing with force. He described the matchup as one that will demand toughness and attention to detail, especially against a Magic team that has reached the playoffs in each of the past two seasons.
“I think the main thing for me is the physicality. Try to impose our will, not let them push us around and stuff like that, ” Bona said. “I think it’s more detail, more focus-based. Locking in on the little details. The little things that make a huge difference. Study the other teams a little bit more. So, just a little bit more intense, more focused, more details. ”
Philadelphia’s path is straightforward: if it beats Orlando, the team advances to the playoffs as the No. 7 seed and will face the Boston Celtics in Round 1. For now, the immediate focus is on executing at home and handling the pressure of a win-or-go-home setting.
Routine stays the same
Bona said he is not changing his routine before the game. He plans to walk into the gym at the same time, take his pregame nap as usual, and keep things steady rather than trying to force a new approach.
“Changing your routine, I don’t think that’s a smart way to go about it, ” Bona told reporters on Wednesday morning. That mindset fits the tone around the 76ers this week, where preparation has centered on details, focus, and handling the moment without overcomplicating it.
What comes next for the 76ers
The 76ers have made clear they will have to move forward without Embiid for at least this game, and Adem Bona is one of the players expected to help carry that load. The stakes are direct: win on Wednesday night and move on, or fall short and end the run in the play-in round. For Bona, the chance to play in his first postseason game is part of the challenge, and it is the reason this moment has become so important for both him and the team. Adem Bona now has the kind of stage young players wait for, and the 76ers will need that energy to turn it into a result.
