There’s been some drama surrounding the Oklahoma City Thunder’s rookie center, Aday Mara. Spanish club Basket Zaragoza is reportedly trying to challenge his NBA eligibility for this season, maintaining that Mara is still under contract with them for the 2026-27 season, and that they haven’t received any transfer requests (which they would oppose anyway). However, there is some good news.
According to Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic, who received a statement from a Thunder spokesperson, OKC doesn’t believe Zaragoza’s opposition has legs. Lorenzi tweeted the following: “Thunder spokesperson on the status of rookie 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.’”
By that logic, the Thunder wouldn’t have to worry about Zaragoza’s challenge. And that would certainly be ideal for the Thunder, as Mara has been cooking during the preseason.
OKC selected Mara, who played his college ball at Michigan, with the No. 12 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. And through his first few preseason appearances, he already looks very impressive.
Using his insane size and impressive touch around the basket, he looks like a guy who could help hold down the fort for OKC for years to come. And obviously, the Thunder would like to kick things off ASAP.
Mara’s Spanish club, however, claims that the Thunder never officially requested his transfer. But OKC says that since Mara played three years of college basketball, he doesn’t need to be cleared by his Spanish team to make the jump.
And based on the statement Lorenzi relayed, that much was cleared by the NBA itself. So, if Zaragoza does want to continue to press this issue, the Thunder are setting it up so the NBA has to help deal with them.
The Thunder have a strong center rotation. Chet Holmgren. Isaiah Hartenstein. Even Thomas Sorber, who is coming off an injury that wiped out his rookie campaign.
But based on how Mara has looked in the preseason, it seems likely that he will earn at least some chances to play in the regular season, if not consistent ones out of the gate.
And though things seemed dicey when Zaragoza first made its statement, it seems like the Thunder don’t think it will be a problem. They don’t think Zaragoza has any ground to stand on regarding this issue.
That's great news for Mara, too, as he won't have to worry about seeing his rookie campaign derailed by a contract problem before it even begins.
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