Aday Mara, the 12th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, made his preseason debut for the Oklahoma City Thunder against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Spanish center recorded 12 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three blocks in 18 minutes on the court. Playing in the starting lineup due to the absences of interior rotation players Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, and Jaylin Williams, Mara shot 5-for-5 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. The Thunder did not count on their usual stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams, which gave him greater prominence.
Standing 2,21 meters tall with a 2,29-meter wingspan and an official standing reach of 2,97 meters, Mara used his physical attributes to lead his team in rebounding and finish as their second-highest scorer. Superdeporte noted that Mara joins fellow Spanish rookies Baba Miller and Sergio de Larrea as part of the new wave of Spanish talent entering the NBA this season.
How Aday Mara adapted to the rotation against New Orleans
Operating without veteran frontcourt anchors, Oklahoma City head coach turned to Mara for heavy minutes early in the game. The former UCLA and Michigan standout displayed versatility on both ends of the floor, anchoring the paint defensively with three blocks. One defensive stop sparked a fast break where Mara sprinted the length of the floor and converted a high-arcing finger-roll layup, drawing a standing ovation from the Thunder bench. The entire OKC bench stood up from their seats to celebrate the play that Aday Mara had just made. This was a type of shot popularized by players like Wilt Chamberlain and George Gervin in the last century.
“Sí, lo vi. Fue gracioso. Simplemente estaban haciendo el gesto del ‘finger roll’. Yo solo estaba allí, cogí el balón, vi el aro y pensé que no podía machacarla. Así que intenté hacer la bandeja. Pero sí, fue divertido,” Mara said after the game regarding his teammates’ reaction on the bench, as quoted by Sport.
The young center admitted to pre-game butterflies in his new surroundings. “Estaba un poco nervioso en el autobús y en los primeros minutos,” Mara said, acknowledging the new nickname given to him by teammates in Oklahoma City. “Me gusta. El año pasado me llamaban Big Goof. Siempre es algo de grande.” He is already nicknamed Big Spain
in the locker room.
Preseason context and historical comparisons for the rookie center
Mara’s selection at No. 12 makes him the fourth-highest drafted Spanish player in NBA history, slotting in behind Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio, and Fran Vázquez. Before the NCAA final, Gasol wrote that Aday Mara is the first Spanish male player to play an NCAA final, and not just play it, but having reached that far playing so well and being a key piece. After the title, Gasol added that it was historic and that he was very happy for him because he deserved it. With Gasol’s endorsement and an almost perfect NBA debut, Mara already adds another milestone: he debuted with the senior Spanish national team on August 28, even before making his professional debut in Oklahoma.
Despite Mara’s efficient performance, the Thunder dropped the preseason contest 100-106 to the Pelicans following a late-game surge by New Orleans, according to Sport. The team’s immediate schedule includes a matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, leading up to the regular-season opener scheduled for October 21, when Oklahoma City faces Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
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