Where the Bruins' best player in 2023-24 would fit best.
After two seasons with the UCLA Bruins, former Blue and Gold power forward/center Adem Bona is headed to the NBA this summer. The 6-foot-10 big man out of Nigeria racked up accolades while with Mick Cronin and co. He was named a two-time Pac-12 All-Defensive Teamer, a 2024 All-Pac-12 First Teamer, and this season's Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.
Bona started pretty much from the jump, ultimately suiting up for all but one of his 66 contests across his two Bruins seasons. He was a key contributor to the club's Sweet Sixteen run in 2023, and the best player on UCLA's 16-17 team last year. In 2023-24, he averaged 12.4 points on 58.8 percent shooting from the floor and 69.6 percent shooting from the foul line, 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.2 assists and 1.1 steals a night.
A lengthy, athletic big man, Bona is limited by his lack of a reliable jumper , and is seen as a late first round or early second round selection. So where would he fit best? There are a few different ways his rookie season can go, in terms of his role and the quality of the team. Let's break it down.Boston, currently up 1-0 in the NBA Finals, presents a unique opportunity for Bona. He could join a club that went 64-18 in 2023-24 as the NBA's No.
Serving as an early contributor on a quality club could represent an exciting opportunity for Bona. The Celtics possess the No. 30 pick this year.The Heat have long suffered from a size issue during their Bam Adebayo era. Adding Thomas Bryant as the 6-foot-9 All-Star center's backup was an unserious decision, and he was out of the team's rotation by the postseason. 6-foot-8 Kevin Love, who'll turn 36 this year, played both backup big man spots.
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