Photo: Peter Baba

Adem Bona could barely contain his excitement when he learned LeBron James would become his teammate on the Philadelphia 76ers. The young center said he and the people around him erupted in celebration inside the car after discovering that the four-time NBA champion was joining Philadelphia.

“I just started screaming at the top of my voice in the car. We just started jumping in the car, and the car started like moving, bouncing literally,” Bona said.

James agreed to a two-year, minimum-salary contract with Philadelphia on July 26, with a player option for the second season and a 15% trade kicker. His arrival followed a major offseason for the 76ers, who also acquired five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics in a blockbuster trade.

Philadelphia sent Paul George, two 2028 and 2031 first-round picks and two second-round picks to Boston for Brown. The moves give the 76ers a new wing pairing of Brown and James alongside Tyrese Maxey and former MVP Joel Embiid.

Maxey averaged 28.3 points and 6.6 assists in 70 games during the 2025-26 regular season, while Embiid averaged 26.9 points and 7.7 rebounds in 38 appearances. Brown arrived after producing the best statistical season of his career with Boston, further changing the offensive structure around Philadelphia’s established core.

Bona enters the new-look roster after averaging 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 17.4 minutes across 71 games during his second NBA season. The 23-year-old center shot 59.5% from the field and started 18 games.

His role could become particularly important as Philadelphia reshapes its frontcourt around Embiid. Bona provides a different physical profile, with his 4.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in 2025-26 coming in limited minutes.

The 76ers finished 45-37 and seventh in the Eastern Conference last season before defeating Boston 4-3 in the first round of the playoffs. Their postseason ended in the conference semifinals, where the New York Knicks swept Philadelphia 4-0.

James now joins a team that has undergone substantial changes since that playoff run. Philadelphia also added Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, Ariel Hukporti and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope while drafting Labaron Philon Jr. with the No. 22 pick.