On the back of a difficult 2024-25 campaign that saw them slump to a 24-58 record and miss the play-offs, the Philadelphia 76ers are in Abu Dhabi, looking to get their pre-season off to a positive start when they take on the New York Knicks in a double-header at Etihad Arena this week.
Some injuries still cast a shadow over the team, with former MVP Joel Embiid and nine-time All-Star Paul George yet to confirm a return date and Jared McCain suffering a UCL tear in his right shooting hand. But the Sixers were in good spirits as they gave 150 kids an experience of a lifetime during a basketball clinic at NYU Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Embiid, who had ice wrapped around his recovering knee at the start, was joined by George, Tyrese Maxey, Adem Bona and the rest of the Sixers squad, who put the children through their paces during the 60-minute workout.
“It was awesome,” Bona told The National on the sidelines of the clinic. “It's really amazing to be able to help the kids, to see the excitement in their eyes.
“They were really excited to be here and, also, we just have to match the energy, bring the same similar energy they bring. Helping out, showing that we care, representing the NBA and the Philadelphia 76ers is really important to us, so it was a great experience.”
For a fourth consecutive year, the NBA has brought two teams to play pre-season games in the capital, thanks to a multi-year deal between the league and the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi.
The partnership is multifaceted and includes grassroots initiatives, talent development, and direct interaction between the Abu Dhabi youth and NBA players in settings like the clinic conducted on Tuesday.
For the players, the trip to Abu Dhabi is a crucial part of their preparations for the new season, and it gives them a chance to square off with a team that made the Eastern Conference finals in their last campaign.
“It's really important for us. This trip is going to be a huge factor for the team,” said Bona. “It helps with team bonding, we get to spend more time together.
“We're out here playing the New York Knicks, it's a really important game for our pre-season, so it's really important getting to spend time with the team, build our team bonding, build the team chemistry ahead of the season.
“It's also amazing that we get to do it in Abu Dhabi here, learn the new culture of the people here and also the way of life here so it's an amazing trip for us.”
Bona, 22, is entering his sophomore season with the Sixers, who drafted the Nigerian-born Turkish centre last year.
With injuries plaguing Philadelphia all season, Bona was called upon during his rookie year way more than was initially expected and he ended up taking part in 58 of the 82 regular-season games.
In the last month of the 2024-25 campaign, he averaged 29.5 minutes on the court, and an impressive 13.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
“I would say the most important thing that was said to me was being patient,” said Bona of the most valuable advice he received after getting drafted.
“Patience is key, you never know when you're going to be called upon, you just got to be ready and stay patient whenever you get called.
“It definitely doesn't come easily. Patience is really hard but I believe that when you wait and stay patient, the end result you feel more fulfilled and more thrilled because after the end it pays off and you feel more grateful.”
Bona is coming off a big summer, where he was part of the Turkey squad that clinched the silver medal at the EuroBasket championship two weeks ago.
His teammates, like Maxey, and Sixers coach Nick Nurse can already see the progress he has made over the summer, both technically and physically, and Bona agrees that his national team experience was invaluable.
“It definitely did help. The EuroBasket is one of the biggest competitions, the biggest stage in basketball in Europe so it was really exciting for me to be there, to experience that moment, to play with my teammates,” said Bona.
“Most of the guys there, I've been playing with them since I was younger so it was a good experience but for my basketball confidence, it helped a lot.
“Playing a high-stakes game like the quarter-finals, playing the knockout games where you know every player matters, that was really good for me.
“Just kind of also set the platform for me going to the NBA, playing in the play-offs where like every single player matters so it's really exciting.”
The Sixers will take on the Knicks in Game 1 on Thursday at 8pm local time and in Game 2 on Saturday at 7pm.
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Federer's 19 grand slam titles
Australian Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Marat Safin; 2006 bt Marcos Baghdatis; 2007 bt Fernando Gonzalez; 2010 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Rafael Nadal
French Open (1 title) - 2009 bt Robin Soderling
Wimbledon (8 titles) - 2003 bt Mark Philippoussis; 2004 bt Andy Roddick; 2005 bt Andy Roddick; 2006 bt Rafael Nadal; 2007 bt Rafael Nadal; 2009 bt Andy Roddick; 2012 bt Andy Murray; 2017 bt Marin Cilic
US Open (5 titles) - 2004 bt Lleyton Hewitt; 2005 bt Andre Agassi; 2006 bt Andy Roddick; 2007 bt Novak Djokovic; 2008 bt Andy Murray
The%20specs
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: BorrowMe (BorrowMe.com)
Date started: August 2021
Founder: Nour Sabri
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce / Marketplace
Size: Two employees
Funding stage: Seed investment
Initial investment: $200,000
Investors: Amr Manaa (director, PwC Middle East)
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
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TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Director: Jon Watts
Stars: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon
Rating:*****
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The five pillars of Islam
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
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