CAMDEN, N.J. — As the Philadelphia 76ers prepare for the 2025-26 season, they will look to a younger cast of players to step in and produce at this stage of their path toward title contention. The goal for President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey and Co. was to get younger and versatile. They accomplished that.

The Sixers selected athletic guard VJ Edgecombe with the No. 3 overall pick and then selected big man Johni Broome in the second round. They brought back second-year forward Justin Edwards and are also looking at second-year big man Adem Bona a look as the backup center to Joel Embiid.

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Of course, Bona will have to wrestle that job away from veteran Andre Drummond, but the Sixers have to like the strides Bona made over the summer. Along with the rest of the youngsters.

“J-Broome has been great, too, the other draftee that we had,” Drummond stated when asked about Edgecombe. “Bona’s looked great. Obviously, he’s had time to play at game speed with Turkey, so it doesn’t count. I’m not giving him that, but he looks amazing. He’s a lot stronger, he’s faster. Apparently, he’s jumping two inches higher than he did last year. Not that he needed that, but he’s looking more athletic. So I think he’s going to be a very big help for us this season, too.”

To Drummond’s point, Bona being able to get some EuroBasket play in with Turkey and helping them win the silver medal will do wonders for a player so young. Historically, players who get international experience are able to build off that and take the next step in their respective careers.

Drummond and the Sixers hope that Bona is able to do just that in his second season in the league.

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“I think there was nothing wrong with Adem’s game,” Drummond explained. “It was more so his confidence. I think now that he’s had the experience of playing a full season and playing in (EuroBasket), coming back now, I can see it’s night and day. His confidence is high. He doesn’t think twice when he gets the ball. He knows exactly what he wants to do. Defensively, he’s more aware. So again, like I said earlier, I think he’s going to be a very big help for us this season.”

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Andre Drummond singles out Adem Bona, Sixers youngsters for their work