Aday Mara, the Spanish unicorn

Kevin Durant, in 2016, used the following words to define Kristaps Porzingis: “He makes the right decisions, he defends, he is a 7-foot (2.13 m) player who can shoot from many positions, including three. That’s weird. And you can plug… it’s like a unicorn in this League”. A unicorn, a mythological creature of extreme beauty and extremely difficult to find. In the NBA we have seen many and very varied, from the Latvian center himself to Giannis Antetokounmpo passing through Lauri Markkanen and Chet Holmgren, and waiting for the most special of the whole herd: Victor Wembanyama. A select group called from Spain by Aday Mara (Zaragoza, April 7, 2005).

The Casademont Zaragoza center made an outstanding appearance in the U-17 World Cup this summer on the Costa del Sol. His 220 centimeters combined with his ability to intimidate centers rivals in the area, his ability with his back to the basket, his hand for the middle distance and his intelligence for the pass were key for Spain to hang up the silver medal after losing in a fantastic final against the United States, the great ogre of the category. “He is a player with very special characteristics. Regardless of the fact that he has a very exuberant physique and that he is rarely seen, I would highlight his ability to pass and read basketball. Obviously also his coordination, his touch, which can open the field…”, describes Javi Zamora, U-17 coach, about his pupil whom he coached in the intercontinental tournament. The player averaged 12.6 points, 5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks for a PIR of 16.4.

The coach (Madrid, 1984), current coach of Hestia Menorca and one of the great training teachers in Spain, also highlights the “competitive character” of this 2nd year Baccalaureate student who has sport in his genes… and his height: his father, Javi Mara, played in the ACB with his 2.01 meters in the CAI between 1986 and 1988, and his mother, Geli Gómez, was a Spanish volleyball international with his 190 centimeters. “He is a guy who really enjoys what he does. and in times of competitive stress, in times when he faces adversity… he is with a smile, understanding what is happening and with a maturity difficult to see for his age”, he continues about a “humble, very normal and somewhat extroverted” boy who leads both on and off the court.

Season with the Casademont Zaragoza

Mara has already had her baptism of fire with the greater from Casademont Zaragoza last year in the 6th day of the FIBA ​​Eurocup against Reggio Emilia. However, his debut in the Endesa League did not come until this season, against Cazoo Baskonia, on October 16. He had 8 points (1 of 1 from the triple) and 4 rebounds for a PIR of 10. The Vitorians were followed by Carplus Fuenlabrada and Joventut. This afternoon, another opportunity against Real Madrid (18:30, #Vamos). And the confirmation by Porfi Fisac, his new coach to replace Martin Schiller, that he would be part of the first team together with Lucas Langarita, his teammate in the U-17s and a fundamental part of a generation, that of 2005, that of the two, Izan Almansa, Hugo González… “special due to a very powerful physical presence that is difficult to come together in a generational group” and “a very important competitive character and personal quality”, according to Session. In the FEB they look at it the same, with confidence, as the end of the desert (with the oasis of the Eurobasket), as Scariolo says, who is currently running the Absolute.

Mara’s career has only just begun, but her future looks bright. Your roof, an unknown. “Each process, each path is different and each player needs peace of mind to see what their ceiling is, but Aday has some very special qualities: due to his height, his coordination, his abilities, it is very difficult to find a body like that”, continues the coach from Madrid. , who asks not to press and be patient with the young pivot. “Time will tell what his ceiling is, but because of his character, his education, his humility and his way of working it will be high and, at least, in this generation he is called to be one of the best”.