Story by
Aday Mara’s message to Thunder teammates after Summer League debut
- Story by
- Aday Mara’s message to Thunder teammates after Summer League debut
Aday Mara's message to Thunder teammates after Summer League debut appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Oklahoma City Thunder were going to make some sort of a response after suffering agonizing defeat versus the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, and when they selected Aday Mara with the No. 12 pick in the NBA Draft, a narrative inevitably began to form. "OKC has its Victor Wembanyama stopper." The 7-foot-3 Spaniard immediately enters the league with a label, and the expectations that come with it.
Advertisement
The Thunder want to take their time assimilating him into their system, however. Mara is getting a feel for the NBA, and he knows that his teammates are trying to figure out how to mesh with someone his size. The former Michigan game-changer has some ideas on how to make life easier for the other players.
"It's {an adjustment} for everyone," Mara told reporters after his NBA Summer League Debut , per The Oklahoman's Justin Martinez. "It's for me too. I'm just trying to tell them on the defensive side, everything that goes through the paint, just let me get it. So we're still trying to figure out that part. Same thing with the lobs. If you see me down there, you can just throw it and I will catch it. Things like that. But it's our fifth day together, so we're just trying to figure it out."
Aday Mara scored 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting and also posted four assists, three rebounds, two blocks, one steal and three turnovers in 22 minutes of action. Despite being on the losing end of a 111-74 shellacking versus the Memphis Grizzlies , the 2026 national champion gained valuable experience. Mara acknowledged the ramped-up physicality, but he is staying patient.
The All-Big Ten selection and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year struggled with UCLA for two seasons before emerging with Dusty May and the Wolverines during the 2025-26 campaign. He must absorb as much information as possible during this introductory phase of his NBA career, because there may come a time when the Thunder heavily rely on him.
Advertisement
Mara's sole purpose is not to disrupt the Spurs' 7-foot-4 juggernaut. His role extends beyond one defensive assignment. He can help Oklahoma City in multiple ways, and based on his comments above, the 21-year-old big man is already focused on lifting his teammates.
Mara and the Thunder square off with the Atlanta Hawks in their next Summer League matchup on Monday night.
Related: Bennett Stirtz, Aday Mara turn in near-identical stats in Thunder summer league opener
Related: Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named 'Canada's national treasure' by coach
