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PHILADELPHIA -- The 2024-25 season did not go as planned for the Philadelphia 76ers, obviously, and what was expected to be a championship-contending season ended up being a year focused on the development of the youngsters.
The Sixers focused on the development of second-round rookie Adem Bona as well as undrafted guard Justin Edwards. If it first-round pick Jared McCain didn't get hurt, he would have been in that group as well as Philadelphia looks to move forward.
Veteran Kyle Lowry, who was limited to just 35 games due to a bothersome hip injury, gave his thoughts on the youngsters and their development.
"They had an opportunity to play basketball, right?" Lowry said. "A guy like Bona got an opportunity to be out there and get some good reps, get some game minutes, get some good time out there. A guy like Justin Edwards getting a chance to go out there show why he was the number one player in high school and get on the floor and get some NBA minutes, and those type of things."
Bona averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks while Edwards averaged 10.1 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 36.3% from deep. The minutes and reps they were able to get in the 2024-25 season will certainly kickstart their development and push them forward in their future.
"The young guys—how you get better in this league is repetition and experience," Lowry added. "Unfortunately, it came in a losing season, but these guys got the chance to be on the floor getting real NBA minutes against NBA competition and NBA coaches. So, you just continue to look at these guys and say, ‘All right, like now going into the summer, use that and use it to get better.'"
Lowry, who just wrapped up his 19th season in the league, knows exactly what the younger Sixers are going through. He went through the same things coming up in the league with the Memphis Grizzlies and the Houston Rockets before getting his big chance against the Toronto Raptors.
"As a competitor, of course, I want to be on the floor and playing and competing, but as a elder statesman in this league, you can get enjoyment out of watching these kids grow, because I was once in their shoes, and I've been through the things that they've been through," he finished. "Sometimes playing, sometimes not playing, sometimes getting big minutes, and having great shooting games and having terrible shooting games, and just figuring out a way to ride the wave and stay consistent is what I get out that. Just trying to help them be consistent."
As Bona and Edwards move forward into their second seasons in the league, they will be able to reflect on their rookie seasons and take these lessons with them into the future.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Veteran Kyle Lowry gives thoughts on Adem Bona, Sixers' youngsters
Continue reading...
The Sixers focused on the development of second-round rookie Adem Bona as well as undrafted guard Justin Edwards. If it first-round pick Jared McCain didn't get hurt, he would have been in that group as well as Philadelphia looks to move forward.
Veteran Kyle Lowry, who was limited to just 35 games due to a bothersome hip injury, gave his thoughts on the youngsters and their development.
"They had an opportunity to play basketball, right?" Lowry said. "A guy like Bona got an opportunity to be out there and get some good reps, get some game minutes, get some good time out there. A guy like Justin Edwards getting a chance to go out there show why he was the number one player in high school and get on the floor and get some NBA minutes, and those type of things."
Bona averaged 5.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks while Edwards averaged 10.1 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 36.3% from deep. The minutes and reps they were able to get in the 2024-25 season will certainly kickstart their development and push them forward in their future.
"The young guys—how you get better in this league is repetition and experience," Lowry added. "Unfortunately, it came in a losing season, but these guys got the chance to be on the floor getting real NBA minutes against NBA competition and NBA coaches. So, you just continue to look at these guys and say, ‘All right, like now going into the summer, use that and use it to get better.'"
Lowry, who just wrapped up his 19th season in the league, knows exactly what the younger Sixers are going through. He went through the same things coming up in the league with the Memphis Grizzlies and the Houston Rockets before getting his big chance against the Toronto Raptors.
"As a competitor, of course, I want to be on the floor and playing and competing, but as a elder statesman in this league, you can get enjoyment out of watching these kids grow, because I was once in their shoes, and I've been through the things that they've been through," he finished. "Sometimes playing, sometimes not playing, sometimes getting big minutes, and having great shooting games and having terrible shooting games, and just figuring out a way to ride the wave and stay consistent is what I get out that. Just trying to help them be consistent."
As Bona and Edwards move forward into their second seasons in the league, they will be able to reflect on their rookie seasons and take these lessons with them into the future.
This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Veteran Kyle Lowry gives thoughts on Adem Bona, Sixers' youngsters
Continue reading...
