Aday Mara Introduced as Thunder Player: "I'm Very Grateful to Arrive in This Environment"

Aday Mara has had his first official introduction as an Oklahoma City Thunder player. Two days after the 2026 NBA Draft, where the franchise used the 12th pick to secure his rights, the Spanish center was presented to the media and spoke about his first impressions, the journey to reach the NBA, and the importance of patience in his development.

The Aragonese player acknowledged that the last few days have been especially intense, between the title won, the pre-Draft process, and his arrival in Oklahoma City.

"It's been crazy. My phone hasn't stopped ringing. I've received so many messages that I'll probably need quite a bit of time to respond to them all, but it's been fantastic. It's a good problem," Mara said during his press conference.

The Spanish international also expressed his delight with his first hours in the city and the atmosphere he found at the franchise.

"I have to say that, so far, I love the city. I think it fits very well with who I am. These first days here have been great," he noted.

A path marked by patience

Mara wanted to look back and assess everything he experienced to reach the NBA. The Spanish center emphasized that each stage of his career, even the most difficult ones, has helped him grow and be prepared for this moment.

"Everything matters during your career. Every path you take, I feel like you're going to enjoy it or learn from it. I think you just have to make the most of everything. I feel like it was by learning from those experiences that I got here. I believe in destiny. I think there are things you have to go through in life to learn from them," he said.

In that process, Mara placed great value on the role of his parents, both with a sports background, and the advice he received as a child about the development timelines for a big man.

"It helped me a lot, because they know what it takes to be a professional player. Since I was young they told me that big men take a bit longer to develop and improve. It was always about having patience, waiting for my moment, and continuing to work," he commented.

That message also accompanied him during his college years, where he had to deal with less straightforward moments before establishing himself as one of the top names in the Draft.

"When I went to UCLA it was more or less the same. They told me that sometimes things don't go the way you want in sports or basketball. But the message was always the same: have patience, because my moment was going to come. I'm very grateful to have the parents and family I have. They've helped me so much," he added.

His professional experience in Spain, a help for the NBA

Before making the jump to college basketball, Aday Mara had already had contact with professional basketball in Spain. An experience that, as he explained, allowed him to understand from a very young age the demands of a professional player's daily life.

"Playing as a professional in Spain, for a year when I was 17 or 18 years old, helped me a lot because I could see up close what the life of a professional player is like. That has served me well and I think now it will be easier for me to adapt to professional life here," he assured.

For Mara, all those stages are part of the necessary preparation to face an opportunity like the one he now has in Oklahoma City.

"In the end, all the lessons you learn throughout your career prepare you for opportunities like this," he summarized.

Growing up watching the NBA, ACB, and EuroLeague

The Thunder's new player also spoke about his role models and how his development has been shaped by different styles of basketball. Mara grew up watching the NBA, but also paying attention to the ACB and EuroLeague, competitions he considers fundamental to better understand the game.

"When I was younger I watched the NBA and all those players. Now being able to share time on the court with them is going to be something incredible. Having so many great players also helps you have role models and people to look up to," he explained.

"It's been fantastic growing up watching the NBA, the ACB, and the EuroLeague. If as a kid you want to learn basketball and understand this sport, you have to do it," he added.

The Thunder's chemistry, one of the keys

Mara also wanted to highlight the competitive context he's arriving into. Oklahoma City has established itself as one of the most attractive projects in the NBA, with a young, competitive group with a very defined identity.

The Spaniard acknowledged that he already followed the team as a fan and that one of the things that caught his attention the most was the connection between its players.

"In previous years I watched this team as a fan. Just by watching it on television you could appreciate the good chemistry and the great relationship they all had," he noted.

That unity, according to Mara, is one of the necessary foundations for building a winning team. The center related it to his recent experience in college basketball and what he learned about the importance of a strong locker room.

"I'm very grateful to arrive in this environment and this team because, after my experience at Michigan and knowing what it takes to win a championship, one of the most important things is having a really good relationship between the players. That's why I'm very grateful to be here," he concluded.

Aday Mara thus begins a new chapter in his career. The NBA awaits him, and it does so in a franchise that believes in his talent, his size, his basketball IQ, and his growth potential. The path to get here wasn't always linear, but the Spaniard insists on the same idea that has accompanied him since childhood: patience, hard work, and making the most of every experience.