Adem Bona was born on March 28, 2003, in Lagos, Nigeria, the country’s largest city and former capital. His birth name is Ikechukwu Stanley Okoro. A Nigerian-born Turkish professional basketball player, he plays primarily at the power forward and center positions. He currently wears the jersey of the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA and represents the Turkish National Basketball Team at the international level.

Born in Lagos as the youngest of five children, Adem Bona initially began his sporting journey with football. However, as his height increased rapidly, he shifted his focus to basketball. During a period when he played under limited conditions, a video of him showcasing his raw talent was shared online, marking a major turning point in his life. The footage caught the attention of Turkish coaches, and at the age of thirteen, he moved to Istanbul to join the Istanbul Basket youth system. After obtaining Turkish citizenship, he adopted the name Adem Bona.

Although sometimes labeled as a “naturalized” player due to his early move, Adem Bona was fully developed within the Turkish basketball system, having entered the sport’s structure at the youth level and completed his development in Turkey.

In 2019, Adem Bona transferred to the youth setup of Pınar Karşıyaka. He quickly progressed to the professional level and made his senior debut the same year in both the Turkish Basketball Super League and the FIBA Europe Cup. His rapid development in Karşıyaka established him as one of Europe’s most promising young big men.

In 2020, Adem Bona decided to continue his career in the United States. He played high school basketball at Prolific Prep in California, where his performances reached McDonald’s All-American caliber. He later joined the University of California, Los Angeles and wore the jersey of the UCLA Bruins between 2022 and 2024 in NCAA competition. At UCLA, he became known for his defensive intensity, rim protection, shot-blocking ability, and elite athleticism. He was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and selected to the conference’s All-Conference First Team.

In the 2024 NBA Draft, Adem Bona was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round with the 41st overall pick. Standing 206 cm tall and weighing 107 kg, he brings high energy and strong interior defense to the NBA, where he wears the number 30 jersey.

At the national team level, Adem Bona achieved significant success with Turkey’s youth teams. He was selected to the All-Tournament Team at the U16 European Championship and earned multiple European and world-level placements with junior national squads. From 2025 onward, he became part of the senior Turkish National Team and contributed to the squad that won the silver medal at the 2025 European Basketball Championship.

Known for his defensive versatility, rim protection, and athletic profile, Adem Bona has stated that watching videos of Ben Wallace played a major role in developing his passion for basketball. He has also frequently cited Giannis Antetokounmpo as a source of inspiration in terms of mindset and career trajectory.

Developed entirely through the youth system, Adem Bona is regarded as a key interior defender who has been integrated into Turkish basketball from the grassroots level. With his work ethic and defense-oriented game, he is widely seen as a player aiming to establish long-term success at the NBA level.

Professional Basketball Career:
2019–2020 – Pınar Karşıyaka
2024–present – Philadelphia 76ers

National Team Career:
2025–present – Turkey

Source: Biyografiler.com