It didn't take long to make an impression. In 18 minutes, all in the first half, Aday Mara finished with 12 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 assists in his first preseason game with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Pelicans won 110-116, a meaningless October result. What mattered for the Thunder was seeing how the new pieces fit together, and the Zaragoza center, the 12th pick in the latest Draft, passed the test with flying colors.
From Defense to Offense
Mara started cautiously. He shared the floor with rotation players like Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain, the ball came to him infrequently and he simply did his work near the rim. His size was immediately noticeable there. He blocked shots, intimidated Yves Missi and other visiting big men and forced them to miss several layups.
That confidence built on the defensive end carried over to the offensive side. The Thunder used him away from the rim, as a screener and as a passer from the top of the key, and his best assists came from there. Then came the points, in every way possible: pick-and-roll continuations, solid footwork in the post and a transition that got the home bench on its feet. He didn't miss a shot.
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The Halftime Detail
At halftime, Mark Daigneault decided to end the night for the regular rotation players who had played, since the stars were already resting. Mara was in that group. It's a preseason detail, but it says something: the coach isn't treating him like a bench-end rookie who needs garbage time minutes.
Daigneault himself explained it after the game, according to NBAManiacs: "I think he's made notable progress between Summer League and training camp. He's been working all summer and arrived in great shape, something that's been noticeable on both sides of the floor." He added: "He's a player with a lot of impact because of his rim protection, his mobility, his size, his offensive continuations… All of that has always been there, and now he's added excellent preparation."
A Summer That Never Stopped
The debut closes an intense few months for Mara. In June, the Thunder selected him with the 12th pick in the Draft following his time at Michigan. In late August he made his debut with the Spanish national team in his hometown, in the Spain-Portugal game in Zaragoza. Now he arrives at a roster that won the championship in 2025 and isn't built to wait for anyone, but in which a center who protects the rim, passes and runs can find his place.
He won't have to wait long to play again: the Thunder host the Milwaukee Bucks tonight in another preseason game.