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oct 17 2026The NBA tips off Tuesday with a larger and younger Spanish contingent than in previous years. Seven players went through training camp, and the preseason has delivered two clear conclusions: Aday Mara has arrived in the league with more poise than expected, and Hugo González enters his second year with the confidence of someone fighting for a permanent rotation spot with the Celtics. Behind them, rookies Sergio de Larrea and Baba Miller showed promise, while Santi Aldama and twins Díaz-Graham experienced very different preseasons.
Aday Mara, a Stellar Arrival
The Aragonese center closed out his five games with the Thunder averaging 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 23 minutes, plus 2.4 blocks. He couldn't have started better. In his debut against the Pelicans in Tulsa, he made all five of his shots and posted 12 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks in just 18 minutes. A day later against the Bucks, he went a perfect 10 of 10 for 22 points, reaching 15 of 15 from the field to start his NBA career. His most complete game came in Atlanta, where he played 33 minutes with 17 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 blocks, earning the confidence of Mark Daigneault as more than just a backup center.
The only shadows on his preseason haven't been related to his play. The Thunder won just one of their five games, and Casademont Zaragoza announced it will oppose the player's transfer, claiming he still has an active contract. Oklahoma City maintains, with NBA backing, that after three years in the NCAA he needs no authorization. His official debut is scheduled for Tuesday in San Antonio.
Hugo González, Shooting Touch and Prominence
Hugo González was the most productive Spanish scorer throughout the preseason, averaging 14.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 20 minutes per game. He started the first game in Cleveland, where he added 15 points and 5 assists, and against the Sixers at TD Garden he scored 17 points without missing any of his four three-pointers. After a quiet game against the Hornets, he closed the preseason with his best performance: 21 points in Philadelphia in the Celtics' overtime victory with their bench squad against LeBron James and Joel Embiid. Boston, which according to several reports refused to include him in conversations about Giannis Antetokounmpo, finished the preseason undefeated, and the Madrid native, shooting over 63% from the field and 55% from three, has given Joe Mazzulla reasons to count on him.
Also Read:
- Oklahoma City Thunder Preview for the 2026-27 NBA Season
- Jorge Díaz-Graham Signs with Dallas Mavericks
De Larrea, a Consistent Point Guard
With the Mavericks winning just one of their four games, Sergio de Larrea was among the most consistent. The Valencian point guard averaged 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 5 assists in 25 minutes per game. He never dipped below 8 points or 4 assists, and was sharp from beyond the arc, going 8 of 12 from three. During the Macao tour against the Rockets, he delivered two solid games. In the second, Dallas's only win, he finished with 9 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and the game's best plus-minus (+34). He also shared the court with Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving in the preseason finale against the Hawks.
Baba Miller Earns His Spot with the Clippers
The 36th pick in the last draft, who signed a standard four-year contract with the Clippers, showed improvement as the preseason progressed. He played all three preseason games off the bench, averaging 11.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 0.7 assists in 19 minutes. He finished with his best performance against the Nuggets: 15 points in 21 minutes, without missing either of his two three-pointers, in a 122-110 victory. He was the leading scorer for the second unit, though he ended up fouling out. All signs point to him starting the season as a backup in the paint.
Aldama and the Díaz-Graham Twins, in Limbo
Santi Aldama, traded this summer from the Grizzlies to the Mavericks, didn't play any preseason minutes while continuing to recover from knee surgery he underwent in March. His coach, Dusty May, left the door open for him to be ready for the season opener. The Díaz-Graham twins, meanwhile, crossed paths in Dallas. Jorge played a single game against the Pelicans, with 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist in 12 minutes, and was cut the next day—the same day the Mavericks signed Guillermo, who didn't debut. The Texas Legends, the Mavericks' G League affiliate, hold the rights to both from the July international draft, and all signs point to them playing there.
