Want to know what a tale of two sides looks like? Aday Mara in the NBA Summer League and preseason as the Oklahoma City Thunder have seen him exceed expectations throughout exhibition play, paving the way for a legitimate role for this upcoming season.
Yes, it’s only preseason. At the same time, these games don’t count. Some may take nothing away from it. What we can say is that these last ten days are the start of the foundation for Mara.
Aday Mara’s Preseason Play: Proving NBA Readiness in OKC
High Efficiency and Interior Scoring Mastery
In five preseason games, the Thunder’s latest top pick averaged 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 78.7% from the floor, and Mara didn’t miss his first shot until the first quarter of his third preseason game. Completely contrary to Summer League, where he looked like a project prospect rather than someone who could be an immediate contributor.
The 7-foot-3 giant has flipped the narrative on his first-year outlook over the past ten days. Now, expectations are building for the rookie. His talent, tools, skill set, and potential ceiling have seemingly changed the tune of the fanbase, and the insight is clear: Sam Presti selected Mara with his latest lottery pick despite being loaded in the frontcourt.
No doubt it will be difficult to earn a consistent role this season with Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Jaylin Williams in the frontcourt. But Mara’s preseason productivity has laid the blueprint for a role as soon as their season opener, which begins in San Antonio.
Mara’s conditioning and ability to play with consistent force were his biggest concerns as a prospect, and Summer League confirmed them. He attacked the offseason and worked on his body. Competed with Spain in the FIBA World Cup qualifying games. The fruits of that labor were immediately on display, with improvements that were night and day throughout the preseason.
Elite Rim Protection and Modern Playmaking
He showed he can be a rim protector and runner, staying active and engaged on the glass; improving as a screener to create space for his teammates; taking and creating space as a roller; and a legitimate vertical lob threat.
Now, we can’t forget Mara’s outlet passing and playmaking out of the high post in half-court settings, which can be used to help secondary units and boost the offense.
The Thunder lack quality screeners, vertical spacers, and players at his size don’t grow on trees. Adding to his uniqueness for them. With his improvements, he will force his way into a role with Oklahoma City sooner rather than later.
Mark Daigneault has built a reputation for doing out-of-the-box things and is known for going 10-to-12 deep on a nightly basis through an 82-game schedule. Plus, with the unpredictability a season entails, opportunities will arise for Mara.
While many see where overreactions get them, it’s obvious that public opinion on Mara has flipped, given it’s just the preseason. If the exhibition is any indication, he will prove worthy of a regular-season role.
Main Image: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
