Piratas del Basket with Aday Mara One Day Before NBA Draft

Piratas del Basket sat down with Aday Mara just 24 hours before the big day: the NBA Draft. The Spanish center faces one of the most important moments of his career with serenity, excitement, and the maturity of someone who knows the work is already done. Accompanied by his family and awaiting his destination, Mara spoke about his feelings, the pre-draft process, the type of team he's looking for, and the dream of making the definitive jump to the world's best league.

Q. You're just hours away from the Draft. How are you living these days?

Aday Mara. Since I live in the process and in the present, I try to enjoy every moment. But obviously, now that I have my parents here, I talk with them and it's like: these are going to be good days.

Q. When you talk with your family, do they give you any advice? Do they calm you down?

Aday Mara. Yes, they tell me to enjoy it. That these days are going to change my life completely and that I have to enjoy it. The work is already done and now, as I say, it's time to wait and celebrate.

Q. In these final hours, do you have any preference about where you land?

Aday Mara. You don't know where you're going to land. There are going to be a lot of changes and such. But obviously I would want a team that wants to work with me, that sees me as a project and that gives me time to adapt to the league, to improve. You never know, so let's hope it's a good place and everything goes well.

Q. Were you surprised about Dusty May?

Aday Mara. Yes. They told me this morning and I was surprised. I didn't know about it, but I'm happy for him.

Q. Some NBA analysts highlight your shot-blocking ability and compare you, all things considered, to very special players like Wembanyama. How would you describe yourself?

Aday Mara. I think people here in the United States still haven't seen everything I can do. There are things I did in Spain that I stopped doing these past years. Obviously, being compared to players like that is good, but I would say that defensively I try to be a good defender, a good center who helps with rim protection.

More than just blocking shots, it's also about intimidating people so they don't enter the paint or so they take bad shots from outside. And then, on offense, I see myself as a player who connects the team a bit, who helps move the ball, who directs the game a bit from the high post or the low post, finding open people, cutting, that kind of thing. Also pick-and-roll and low post. But I'll do whatever the coach tells me.

Q. Your reference could be Pau Gasol, right? Do you feel identified with him?

Aday Mara. Yes. Obviously I see that people say I look a lot like him. But, all things considered, I think my game is more similar to Marc's than to Pau's. Having both as references and idols helps you, both to learn movements or things they did and to see how they handled their day-to-day.

Q. Also because of mentality?

Aday Mara. Yes, obviously. It's not all physical in basketball. The way they handled their early years, being in the NBA and all that, are things I try to learn from.

Q. You played in the ACB, a very competitive league. Do you think that will serve as a foundation for growth in the NBA?

Aday Mara. Yes, it's going to help me a lot. Especially from having already played with professional people and in a professional environment. Knowing that you're already made, so to speak, in a professional setting. But also knowing that you have to arrive at these teams prepared, because they're going to try to get the most out of you. Sometimes you have to keep working and be ready for the opportunities that come.

Q. At the Combine we noticed you were more serious, more calm. Today we see you smiling, more upbeat. How are you feeling now, 24 hours before the Draft?

Aday Mara. I'm happy. Maybe even happier because I've finished all the work I had to do: training sessions, workouts, and all those things. Now I'm enjoying the moment more than anything else. That's why you see me happy.

Q. What has changed in your mentality, your game, or your training since the Combine?

Aday Mara. Speaking about basketball, we've improved things that maybe I hadn't done during the season and that I felt I could show to teams. But not much else has changed. The context has changed, the moment I'm in.

Q. You've worked with other players during this process. How has it been?

Aday Mara. Yes, we trained together. We spent a week or two weeks training in the same place. We also played golf a couple of times. He's a good guy. We talked about next year's teams and I think it's going to be great. I'm happy for him.

Q. During the pre-Draft process, what have you focused your work on the most?

Aday Mara. What I've been training the most is the perimeter game and shooting. Trying to show teams that I used to, when I was in Spain, shoot and play a bit more on the outside. I had the ability to play more on the perimeter. We've trained that, a lot of conditioning also to be ready for the workouts, and overall the entire perimeter game. I think it's gone pretty well and I'm happy about that.

Q. What do you think of Baba Miller and Sergio de Larrea?

Aday Mara. I'm happy that they're here and that they also have the opportunity. With Sergio I'm a bit closer and I'm talking a bit more with him. Right now he's playing in the finals. Let's see if when the Draft ends I can go to Spain for a few days and go see him. I'm happy that they're there too and I'm sure things will go well for them.

Q. In March Madness you had a viral play against Robbie Avila, with that fake. Do you feel that part of your game, your passing ability and your ability to read the game, is undervalued?

Aday Mara. I think people here in the United States are now realizing what I can do, especially this year, when I've had a bit more freedom. For people in Spain, who knew me before, it was something they knew I could do. Here they're discovering it now.

Whenever I can, I'm going to try to play the way I know how, having fun and without pressure. I'm happy that people are seeing parts of my game they hadn't seen before.

Q. Would you like to play in New York, for example with the Brooklyn Nets?

Aday Mara. Yes, I'd be happy with any team. My goal is to play in the NBA and have a long career. Any team that wants to work with me, that has a project and gives me time to develop and adjust to the league, would be great.

Q. Would it be exciting to play in New York?

Aday Mara. Yes, obviously. It's a great city. It would be exciting.

Q. Did you have a relationship with Jordi Fernández before the pre-Draft process?

Aday Mara. No. At the Combine we saw each other and talked a bit, but we didn't have a relationship. It would be great to be with a Spanish coach, but we don't know anything until the last second. We'll see.

Q. How was your meeting with him?

Aday Mara. I said hello, we talked a bit, and it was good. He's a great person.

Q. Did you have a formal meeting with the Nets or just talked a bit with Jordi?

Aday Mara. Yes, we talked. We went to grab something to eat and talked. It was great.

Q. Is there any team you especially like? Any team that's a dream?

Aday Mara. There are always teams you follow from childhood, the biggest ones. But now, wherever I go in these rookie years, I'll be focused on improving and trying to help the team as much as possible.

When I have the chance and I'm adjusted to the league, I'd like to be on a contending team to win the NBA championship. Obviously there are teams you follow from childhood, but you can always be surprised: you can end up on a team and that team ends up becoming your home. I don't have any expectations.

Q. So, more than a specific name, you're looking for a team that wants to have you and gives you room to grow.

Aday Mara. Yes, more that plan and that project. Feeling that they're working with me and that they're helping me adjust to the league. Maybe not so much a team that has the pressure to win already, but one that has that plan with me.