Sixers star evaluates play of Justin Edwards, Adem Bona in second-year

PHILADELPHIA -- With the 2025-26 season in the books for the Philadelphia 76ers, now is the time to look at what the team was able to do throughout the season. The Sixers finished 45-37 and made it to Round 2 of the playoffs despite, once again, dealing with a slew of injuries.

The reason why they were able to do so was because second-year players like Justin Edwards and Adem Bona stepped up to give the team some much-needed production.

Bona played 71 games with 18 starts in his second season in the league and averaged 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. Fouling was still an issue for him, but Tyrese Maxey was proud of his young center for being able to step up and produce when the time called for it.

"Man, listen, Justin, Bona those two guys, they were big time," Maxey started. "I think one because Bona played so many different roles. When Joel played, when Joel didn't play. He started sometimes, and like, he was really good, man. I saw growth in his game. I saw him get more comfortable out there. I thought this is a great experience in the playoffs. He started three games, I think, in the playoffs. Starting the playoffs, that's not a given. You know what I'm saying? Like, that's big time. So I saw the growth in him."

Edwards had a big 8-game stretch in March when he averaged 15.4 points, including scoring 32 points in a road win over the Sacramento Kings, and shot 40% from deep with the Sixers missing Paul George, Maxey, and Joel Embiid. That was a big stretch for this group.

"Justin his mental and, like, just him staying ready this entire season," Maxey added. "Like last year, he was kind of like, up and down when he got in and when he played. Even this year, it was like that, but I could see, and I could tell, like, he stayed locked in a lot because of this guy (Maxey pointed to VJ Edgecombe), too. Like they're really close, and shout out to both of them."

Maxey wants the younger players on the team, guys like Edwards, Bona, and Edgecombe to build that chemistry off the court in order to be in complete sync on the court. He saw improvements that the second-year guys were able to make and is looking for them to continue building as he did with veterans previously in his career.

"They did a good job of just talking to each other and being there for each other, and that's what you need, man," Maxey finished. "Like, when you are close off the court, and you're talking to guys, and you spend time with guys, it gets easier on the court, you know what I'm saying? So, I preached at the beginning of this season. Like, that's one thing I can say about Joel. Like, I'm closer to Joel. So, I kind of know what he wants in the game, and the closer you get with these guys, and the more battles you go through, the more camaraderie that you have and the better that your teams and your experience will be. So Justin and Bona were really good."