Two rookie centers went toe-to-toe Monday in Las Vegas, and no rims were safe.
CLINGAN DOWN THE LANE
— NBA (@NBA) July 16, 2024
The No. 7 pick drops the hammer in Vegas on NBA TV. pic.twitter.com/OzUF0vJc4g
First, Donovan Clingan, the No. 7 pick in June’s draft, surged down the lane to dunk on Adem Bona. Then Bona, the No. 41 pick out of UCLA, returned the favor.
Then Adem Bona comes back with a big-time flush of his own!
— NBA (@NBA) July 16, 2024
The two rookie bigs going at it in #NBA2KSummerLeague https://t.co/ptTq3eRtqE pic.twitter.com/kAN1OuUzUd
Bona signed a standard NBA contract with the 76ers after his selection in the second round. He won Defensive Player of the Year in the Pac-12 last season, and a big defensive play he made on Clingan may have inspired the Portland big man’s dunk.
Adem Bona skies for the emphatic rejection, leading to a Justin Edwards bucket the other way for Philly #NBA2KSummerLeague on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/dSggTIagTP
— NBA (@NBA) July 16, 2024
Clingan again looked good defensively in Portland’s 97-95 win over Philadelphia. He blocked three shots, including a game-saving rejection of fellow first-rounder Jared McCain in the final minute.
The jump shot wasn’t good, but Clingan delivered 11 rebounds and five assists, an encouraging sign. Like Bona, who will likely sit behind Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond, Clingan will have time to develop next season backing up Deandre Ayton.
While we’re talking about dunks, we should mention Philly’s Summer League hero, Ricky Council IV. Not only has Council showed off impressive shot-making so far in Vegas, but he also appears committed to trying to finish off every Sixers fast break with a reverse dunk.
Ricky Council IV goes reverse on the break for the Sixers #NBA2KSummerLeague on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/k8hut5op4F
— NBA (@NBA) July 16, 2024
So far, Clingan and Bona both look ready to contribute in the NBA, at least a little bit. And based on Monday’s game, they both have a future in creating posters.
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