Aday Mara has quieted early questions about his conditioning during his first weeks with the

Aday Mara has quieted early questions about his conditioning during his first weeks with the Oklahoma City Thunder, averaging 17 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2 blocks over his first two preseason appearances without missing a single field goal, Basket USA reported.

The 7-foot-2 center’s physical transformation addresses primary concerns regarding his stamina that followed him out of the NCAA and through the pre-draft process. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault pointed to the rookie’s rigorous training regimen between the end of the Summer League and the opening of training camp as the catalyst for his improved mobility on both ends of the floor.

Physical Condition Drives Early Preseason Impact

Daigneault noted that Mara’s conditioning allows him to run the floor with greater speed, a vital adjustment for a player of his imposing size in the modern, fast-paced NBA. He worked immensely between the end of Summer League and his return to Oklahoma City, and then during training camp, Daigneault said, according to Basket USA. He spent many days working hard on his physical condition, keeping his head down, and it showed.

To address his prior endurance limitations, the Thunder integrated a targeted conditioning program overseen by Maral Javadifar, the franchise’s new director of physical performance. That focused workload has translated directly into game action, helping the center handle high-tempo possessions without sacrificing efficiency.

Perfect Shooting Night Against the Milwaukee Bucks

Mara’s conditioning gains were on full display during a 128-126 preseason loss to the Milwaukee Bucks at the Paycom Center, where the rookie pivot scored 22 points on a flawless 10-for-10 shooting performance in 25 minutes of floor time, according to Sport Pulse. Sport Pulse noted that Mara added 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block while finishing plus-17 during his minutes, though Oklahoma City squandered a 24-point lead.

It is obviously a very effective player thanks to his offensive qualities and his impact in defense, but you have to be in very good physical condition to do all that, and he is working on it, Daigneault said of the performance, via Basket USA.

Thunder Rotate Roster Before Facing Atlanta Hawks

The Thunder played the contest against Milwaukee without several key contributors, as Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein sat out as inactives, while guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander logged just 18 minutes. The extended minutes allowed fellow rookie Bennett Stirtz to score 20 points and French forward Ousmane Dieng to collect 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists in 22 minutes.

Following two preseason defeats, Oklahoma City travels to face the Atlanta Hawks in a road exhibition scheduled for the night of Monday, October 12, ahead of their regular-season opener against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday, October 20.