The keys to Aday Mara's debut with the Oklahoma City Thunder
The Aragonese center has already put on the OKC jersey showing flashes of what he's got
The result was clearly adverse, but Aday Mara's debut in the Oklahoma City Thunder jersey provided reasons for optimism. The Spanish center played his first minutes as a franchise player in the Salt Lake City Summer League, where the Thunder suffered a convincing 111-74 defeat against a Memphis Grizzlies team led by Cameron Boozer.
The Aragonese big man, selected 12th in the last Draft, was part of the starting five and indications are that he will continue to play a leading role during the summer matches. These weeks will be crucial to start earning the trust of the coaching staff before the start of the season, although he faces competition from established players like Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren.
A Complete Debut on Both Ends of the Court
Mara spent 22 minutes on the court and delivered a fairly complete performance. He ended with 10 points thanks to a solid 5 for 8 from the field, in addition to dishing out four assists, grabbing three rebounds, blocking two shots, and stealing one ball.
His stat line also showed three turnovers and a miss on the only free throw he attempted, but these were minor details in a performance that showcased many of the qualities that have made him one of the promising stars of Spanish basketball.
On the scoring front, the top performers for Oklahoma were Brooks Barnhizer and Payton Sandfort, both with 13 points, in a game that the Thunder never managed to control.
Glimpses of the Talent That Took Him to the NBA
Beyond the numbers, Mara showcased several plays that caught the eye. He displayed skills playing with his back to the basket, both to finish and to find his teammates, and used his imposing physique to make an impact in the paint on both ends of the floor.
His ability to pass the ball from the post once again stood out as one of the highlights of his game, a facet he had already demonstrated during his college career and previously in Spain.
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