UCLA Basketball: Adem Bona Officially Declares for NBA Draft

Eva Geitheim | Apr 12, 2024

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

UCLA basketball forward Adem Bona is declaring for the NBA Draft. After two seasons with the Bruins, Bona will be leaving to play in the NBA, as he announced on his Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Adem Bona (@adem_bona)

Bona previously declared for the NBA Draft last year while retaining his college eligibility, but withdrew from the draft after surgery for a torn labrum kept him from participating in pre-draft workouts.

Bona enters the draft as one of the best defenders coming out of college basketball. The 6-foot-10 sophomore is a two-time member of the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team and the 2024 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. In addition to these defensive honors, Bona was part of the All-Pac-12 team this season and was previously the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.

During his final season at UCLA, Bona averaged 12.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.1 steals per game while shooting an average of 58.8% from the field.

Entering the draft this year is likely a smart move for Bona as this year's draft lacks the top-tier talent that many drafts hold. This could potentially benefit Bona's draft position, or at least provide less competition among fellow prospects.

Bona leaving is a huge loss for UCLA's basketball team. Bona was the lone remaining starter from the UCLA team that made the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2023 after Jaime Jaquez Jr., Amari Bailey, Tyger Campbell and Jaylen Clark all departed last year. This core formed the best Bruins teams in recent years. With Bona leaving, the end of that era is officially here.

The good news for UCLA is they have been able to secure a key transfer in former USC Trojan Kobe Johnson. Johnson will join the Bruins, who's top impact players are Dylan Andrews, Lazar Stefanovic, and Sebastian Mack. This does not replace the loss of Bona, but gives the Bruins a good starting point to go off from.