With the Oklahoma City Thunder just days away from tipping off the 2026-27 season, the status of rookie Aday Mara came into question after threats from his former club in Spain.
Basket Zaragoza announced Friday that it has not received an international transfer request for Mara and would oppose one until it reaches a financial settlement. It claims it holds his playing rights because he is under contract with the team for the upcoming season.
Mara signed with Basket Zaragoza in 2020 and spent two years with its youth academy before joining the senior team for the 2022-23 season. He then moved to the United States, spent two seasons at UCLA and transferred to Michigan.
Basket Zaragoza said his contract wasn't terminated when he left for UCLA because
FIBA regulations don't require an international transfer for the NCAA. However, the Thunder said in a statement Friday that Mara doesn't need club approval and is cleared to play in the NBA.
Thunder spokesperson on the status of rookie big man Aday Mara: “Aday last played three years of NCAA college basketball and therefore, as advised by the NBA, no clearance from the Spanish team is required for him to play in the NBA.”
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 16, 2026
Mara was the 12th overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft after helping the Wolverines win their second national championship last season. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 12.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.4 assists.
The 7-footer appeared in all five of the Thunder's preseason games, averaging 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.4 blocks while shooting 78.8% from the field. He finished in double figures four times, including a 22-point performance on Oct. 7.
Mara was linked to the Thunder throughout the predraft process because of his two-way impact and flexibility in the lineup. He has been a tremendous lob threat for his Thunder teammates early on, while he is also cleaning the glass at a high level.
After wrapping up the preseason on Thursday, Mara and the Thunder tip off the regular season Tuesday in San Antonio. Despite some pushback from Basket Zaragoza, Mara is expected to be available to play for coach Mark Daigneault.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Thunder issue statement on rookie Aday Mara after Spanish club threats
