CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers have two capable backup centers to turn to behind Joel Embiid as they move forward with their season. Coach Nick Nurse can turn to 15-year veteran Andre Drummond who can still rebound with the best of them and provides size down low or he can turn to second-year Adem Bona who provides a ton of energy.
Both Drummond and Bona are players who can produce off the bench to give Nurse and Co. some legitimate minutes behind Embiid. Their play has been a key for Philadelphia’s success in the 2025-26 season in games in which Embiid can’t go.
Advertisement
When it comes to who Nurse will go to when Embiid does play, the coach has conversations with both big men.
“I mean, I do talk to them about both always being ready no matter what,” Nurse explained. “I think in my ideal world, I would like to start Drum on the the nights Joel, we know he’s not playing. I’d like Drum to be the starter, and Bona to be the backup, and they share that pretty much for the night, the rest of the time.”
With that being said, Nurse and the Sixers will base it off matchups. For example, against a team like the Toronto Raptors that don’t feature much size, Bona will get the call. Against the bigger teams, Nurse will go to the burly Drummond to provide a better matchup inside against that specific team’s size.
“It is more probably matched up based or, like, let’s say we have a game like, like, in Toronto, and then we just say Bona just seemed to be the hot hand and a better fit for Toronto,” Nurse added. “So, we go with him a little bit more the next night, or whatever, and it is a little bit match up, driven. I would say, in general, teams usually get a little smaller with their backup big, so that lends, again, to Drummond starting, Bona coming off the bench, but it’s not always the case, but I would say it’s kind of the general thoughts there.”
Advertisement
No matter who Nurse turns to, either Drummond or Bona can give the Sixers some good production. It is a luxury that the coach has when Embiid needs his rest or he can’t give it a go.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Nick Nurse gives insight into Sixers’ nightly backup center choices
#Nick #Nurse #insight #Sixers #nightly #backup #center #choices