By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The Nigerian-Turkish center Adem Bona is expected to stay around the NBA at least for the next four seasons, as he agreed to a four-year $8 million rookie contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, according to Shams Charania from The Athletic.
The 2003-born center recently impressed the audience by averaging 6.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 blocks in 22.7 minutes of playing time in the 2024 NBA Summer League.
Coming out of UCLA after two years (2022-24) in the NCAA, he was recently selected with the 41st overall pick in the NBA Draft 2024. He debuted professionally in 2019 with Pinar Karsiyaka.
Adem Bona won one silver medal (2019 FIBA U18 European Championship) and one bronze medal (2018 FIBA U16 European Championship) with Turkiye. At the most recent 2022 FIBA U20 European Championship, he averaged an outstanding double-double of 17.0 points and 10.9 rebounds per night.
Philadelphia 76ers No. 41 pick Adem Bona has agreed on a four-year, $8 million rookie contract, per his management group Banner 1 and @RocNationSports. The UCLA center has averaged 6.3 points, 6 rebounds, 4 blocks in 22.7 minutes per night so far in 76ers’ Summer League action. pic.twitter.com/qRXBTPJlJo
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 15, 2024
Karlo Matkovic staying for three years with New Orleans
Unlike Adem Bona, the 2001-born big man Karlo Matkovic hasn’t had college experience in his previous years. Growing up in Cedevita Zagreb’s youth system, he then spent three years with Mega in the ABA League before moving to Slovenia to play for Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana.
Now, once again according to Shams Charania, he has agreed to a three-year, $4.9 million contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, reaching his rookie deal. He was chosen with the 52nd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
In his first two BKT EuroCup seasons between 2022 and 2024 with the green-and-orange Slovenian powerhouse, he had been averaging 12.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Internationally, he first represented Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Under 18 squad, but then decided to play with Croatia once joining the senior national team. He wasn’t there for the latest FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament but averaged 8.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game at FIBA EuroBasket 2022.
The New Orleans Pelicans are signing 2022 second-round pick Karlo Matkovic to a three-year, $4.9 million contract, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The 6-foot-11 center out of Croatia reaches his rookie deal, adding frontcourt depth to Pelicans. pic.twitter.com/D2jj6LntC7
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 14, 2024
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images