After a truly lackluster string of Summer League performances, Aday Mara earned the moniker of "most disappointing rookie" from the tournament and sparked serious doubts among OKC Thunder fans about whether he's ready to make an impact right out of the gate in year one.
However, as time has gone by, the big man has slowly started to show signs that he may have put these initial on-court struggles behind him.
There might be a very simple reason for why this has been.
In Tuesday's preseason opener with the Thunder, Mara displayed the kind of two-way abilities that made him a lottery pick in the first place, posting a whopping 12 points, nine boards, three assists, and three blocks in just 18 minutes.
He did this by efficiently playing and feeding off his pro-level running mates as a supporting character, rather than as a focal-point player, as he was treated in the Summer League.
Aday Mara now has quality talent surrounding him in Thunder rotation
Throughout his collegiate career, on the international stage for Spain, and now in the NBA, Mara has been at his best when serving as a complementary player, particularly on the offensive end, benefiting from the gravity his teammates generate and the dime-dropping skills they provide him.
Now, of course, his own creation skills were certainly evident during OKC's bout against New Orleans, as he dropped numerous dimes and pulled out some nifty footwork down in the low post.
However, unlike in Summer League, the talents around him capitalized on these opportunities and converted rather than falling short.
All throughout training camp, there has been growing buzz about Mara's improved play compared to what he showcased earlier in the summer.
Kenrich Williams has gone on record predicting that he sees All-Defensive honors in the rookie's future, while head coach Mark Daigneault noted post-game that Mara "worked really hard" all offseason to get himself ready for his debut campaign in the association.
Though it may have only come in preseason action, fans saw a glimpse of what all this hype is about.
Fortunately, this may be only the beginning when it comes to the level at which he can possibly produce, as this kind of performance came on a night when guys like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren were all sidelined.
Just imagine what he'll be able to accomplish while operating in the shadows while defenses fixate on their star trio.
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