Aday Mara on his adaptation to the United States: "It's a bit tough when the team is laughing and you don't know why"

The Spanish center recorded a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds in his third game with Oklahoma. His height and mobility, along with his physical progression, fuel expectations for his first season in the NBA.

Aday Mara exceeds expectations in Oklahoma

The expectations surrounding Aday Mara were already high, but the Spaniard is taking it a step further during the preseason. The center is earning a place in the rotation of the Oklahoma City Thunder and is set to receive more minutes than anticipated for a rookie joining a championship-contending franchise.

Mara, known as 'Big Spain' within the locker room, registered a double-double in his third outing with the Thunder, scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. His impressive physicality, standing at 2.21 meters tall, allows him to stand out in the paint, while his mobility is another of his main assets.

The Aragonese player made history last year by becoming the first Spaniard to win the NCAA, the American college competition. Now, he aims to raise the Spanish flag to the highest levels of the NBA, following the path set by the Gasol brothers.

The challenges of adapting to American basketball

Mara has been in the United States for over three years, having arrived after completing his final steps in Spain with Casademont Zaragoza. In an interview on El Partidazo de COPE, the center recalled that his first months were challenging, particularly due to difficulties communicating with his teammates and building relationships within the locker room. However, over time, he has managed to overcome many of those barriers.

“It’s a bit tough when the team is laughing and you don’t know why,” he admitted. He also acknowledged that at times he feels “shy” because he cannot express himself as easily as in Spanish. This difficulty in communication somewhat limits his ability to show his personality.

Despite this, Mara has quickly won the affection of his teammates in Oklahoma.

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Eggs and Spanish omelette, key to his physical preparation

Another area where he is focusing his efforts is physical development. Breakfast plays an important role in his dietary routine, as he explained during the interview.

One of his main goals is to gain strength to impose himself on his rivals in the paint and continue progressing as a center.

Alex Caruso calls Mara a "monster"

The good performances being delivered by the Spaniard have also caught the attention of his teammates. Some Thunder players have already highlighted his qualities and praised his understanding of basketball.

Alex Caruso spoke about both Mara and Bennett Stirtz, emphasizing their ability to read the game and make good decisions. “They are both really skilled players. I think they both know how to play basketball; they know how to make the right play. It’s not a skill that everyone has at a young age,” he explained.

When he focused specifically on the Spanish center, Caruso was even more emphatic, describing him as “a monster.”

A promising start before the season begins

Mara’s performances during the preseason are reinforcing expectations about his role in Oklahoma. In all the preparation games he has played, in addition to two matches with the Spanish national team, he has surpassed ten points. His best scoring performance came against the Milwaukee Bucks, where he reached 22 points.

The official season has not yet started, but the Spaniard is already showing that he can compete for a spot in the rotation. His performance allows him to aim for more minutes than initially expected and threatens to make things difficult for his position mates.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Aday Mara, sobre su adaptación a Estados Unidos: "Se pasa un poco mal cuando el equipo se está riendo y tú no sabes de qué"