The Oklahoma City Thunder selected big man Aday Mara in the lottery of the 2026 NBA Draft and he has already looked truly dominant in the preseason.
Mara, who won a collegiate national championship at Michigan last season and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, already looks like a steal in the draft by Sam Presti and the Oklahoma City front office. However, his NBA career is already under scrutiny due to a dispute with the Spanish club Basket Zaragoza.
Here is more from (via EuroHoops.net):
"As the local newspaper Heraldo de Aragon reported first his former team claims to hold his playing rights and plans to block any international clearance until a financial settlement regarding his departure is reached. This case had initially progressed
to litigation and remains without a legal resolution."
Basket Zaragoza wants FIBA and the Thunder to begin a formal transfer process and the club added that it would then plan to oppose such a transfer because it alleges Mara has a contract with the Spanish organization for 2026-27.
BREAKING:
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) October 16, 2026
🚨 Spanish club Zaragoza says that OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER rookie center ADAY MARA is still under a "valid contract" with them
According to Zaragoza, there hasn't been any request for Mara's transfer and the club plans to "oppose" it if it's submitted pic.twitter.com/PJienSUYt0
The 7-foot-3 rookie began his career playing in the youth system for Basket Zaragoza, playing a few games for their U18 club when he was just 15 years old. By the time he was 17, he was promoted to the main roster, earning a spot on the ACB All-Young Players Team in 2023.
He then decided to sign NCAA basketball with the UCLA Bruins in the NCAA. Although Zaragoza disputed the move, threatening his collegiate eligibility, he was cleared to play just days before the season began. Mara played another year at UCLA before transferring to Michigan, where he won a title.
Once again three years later, Zaragoza is potentially standing in the way of Mara beginning the next chapter of his basketball career.
Mara has averaged 20.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per 36 minutes during five games of preseason action for the Thunder. He is shooting a dominant 78.8 percent from the field and he already looks like one of the top first-year players set to begin his NBA tenure.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Thunder star rookie has NBA debut threatened by Spanish club
