Aday Mara: "Representing Spain is one of the greatest things you can do"

Brooklyn. Aday Mara was selected 12th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft by Oklahoma City Thunder, a championship-contending franchise with one of the league's best defenses. The Spanish center discussed his arrival at OKC, his potential fit alongside Chet Holmgren, the Spanish national team, and the pride of becoming the highest-drafted Spanish player since Ricky Rubio in 2009.

Question: You've been selected by the Thunder and will play with Chet Holmgren. You're joining a championship-contending team that will likely compete many times against Victor Wembanyama. How do you approach this from day one?

Aday Mara: It's exciting. After winning the championship with Michigan, you want more. So it's great to arrive at a contending team like OKC.

I'm thrilled to be there, to start working and help the team however I can.

Question: You're one of the best passers in this Draft for your size. Who taught you that skill and that way of understanding the game?

Aday Mara: That's my father's fault. I've talked to people who played with him and they told me he was smart, that he knew how to pass the ball. I guess it's something I picked up from him.

But I also enjoy finding cutters, finding teammates completely open. For me it's very fun to find my teammates and make them look good. It's a mix.

Question: Jake Fischer reported after your selection that you could be seen as a possible "antidote" to Victor Wembanyama. What's your reaction to that and how do you see those matchups against Wemby?

Aday Mara: It's not something bad to hear, obviously. I think I'll need time to adjust, but I'm excited. I'm eager to play against him. Obviously, also to play in the NBA.

I feel like I'm going to face him a lot. If not in the NBA, it will be with the national team. So I'm excited to prepare to play against him.

Question: You participated twice in Basketball Without Borders and were named an All-Star. What did that experience mean to you? And the NBA set a record last year for international players, with 135 from 43 countries. What does it mean to add your name to that list?

Aday Mara: First, I think Basketball Without Borders is a great opportunity for an international player. If you go there, it means you're one of the best players outside the United States. They can see you play, train and analyze your game.

For me, being in Spain, maybe it was a bit harder for them to see me or they had to use international scouts. Being there in person I think is very good.

It also gives you an idea of what the NBA can be like, what the training is like and that kind of thing. So I think Basketball Without Borders is very important for international players.

On the second question, it's great to be on that list. I think international basketball and European basketball are improving more and more. We see it every year: there are very good players, high-level players, from different countries.

I'm very happy that's happening and also very excited to be part of that list.

Question: You're joining a franchise known for building its rosters carefully and intelligently. What do you think that says about you? What have they told you they see in your game and how do they expect to use you?

Aday Mara: First, I'm very happy to be in this organization. If they're where they are, it's for a reason; because they've done things right.

I'm excited to arrive, to adapt to the league, to the training, to NBA life.

I think it's going to be very good to play every day against top-level players. That's going to help me a lot. I can't wait to arrive tomorrow and meet everyone.

Question: I wanted to ask you about the influence of coach Ivo Simovic on your path from Spain. And also about your commitment to the Spanish national team in the future. Now you're in the NBA, with the Summer League and everything that comes in the summer. Are you still committed to playing for Spain?

Aday Mara: I have a good relationship with him. We've known each other for a couple of years. I went to Toronto for a training session and ran into him again.

He also speaks Spanish, he was in Spain, so I have a good relationship with him. We've talked a lot throughout the whole process and he's been helping me.

About the national team, I always think the same thing: playing with your national team is one of the greatest things you can do in basketball, representing your country.

Hopefully I can play every possible game with the national team. I think we have a great generation coming, so I'm also very excited to play with the national team.

Question: You were selected 12th overall, making you the highest-drafted Spanish player since Ricky Rubio, who was number 5 in 2009. What does that mean to you, to your culture, your roots and your family?

Aday Mara: It means a lot. It's an honor to represent my country. You enter a list with very good names and I'm happy about that. I think it's something big for Spanish basketball. I'm very pleased to enter that list of players and to have been selected so high.

Obviously it's important, but I don't think the most important thing is how high you can go or not. What's important is the team and the program.

That's why I'm so excited to be with OKC, because I think it's a great program. But yes, I'm happy.

Question: You were named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in 2026. You're arriving at Oklahoma City, which had the best defense in the regular season. How do you think your qualities can elevate the team even further?

Aday Mara: I'll try to do what the coach says and help the team however I can. I also want to improve every year, every month, or however it goes.

I think being able to play with Chet can be very good. We can play together and that can be important for the team, especially when talking about rim protection.

Defense, especially in my early years, is going to be very important in my game. I'm very eager to arrive, understand how they play, how they work and adapt to help as much as possible from my first year.