The Oklahoma City Thunder have high hopes for rookie center Aday Mara, taken with the No. 12 pick in June’s draft. Mara’s NBA Summer League debut might make the Thunder temper those expectations.
Mara scored two points in 25 minutes and didn’t make a shot from the field in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 96-84 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers Friday. He looked far from being able to contribute to a Thunder team ready to compete for another title.
Aday Mara didn’t play like a lottery pick in Summer League debut
Mara and the Thunder got a seemingly favorable first game in Las Vegas. The 7-foot-3 Mara faced a Lakers team whose tallest starter was 6-foot-8 and lacked a true center on the roster. Big men often struggle to get chances in Summer League, but the Thunder had No. 16 pick Bennett Stirtz to get Mara the ball.
It didn’t work out well for Mara. After his first two shots got blocked, Mara seemed reluctant to shoot at all. He didn’t score until late in the second quarter, after a non-shooting foul sent him to the free throw line. He finished with seven rebounds, no made field goals, two blocks and three turnovers.
At one point, Mara grabbed an offensive rebound and had only 6-foot-4 guard Chris Manon between him and the basket. Instead, Mara threw a behind-the-back pass into the stands.
Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t sweating Aday Mara’s development
Normally, a terrible debut from a team’s No. 12 pick would be a cause for panic. Not for the Thunder, who have a plethora of draft picks in reserve and a roster so stacked they’ve had to trade talented players just to make room this summer (and get more picks). Especially since the Thunder already have Chet Holmgren and brought back Isaiah Hartenstein on a long-term deal.
That means Mara can take as long as he needs to develop with the Thunder’s G League franchise next season. The Thunder should have center Thomas Sorber, drafted at a similar draft position as Mara in 2025, back from knee surgeries this fall. OKC doesn’t need to develop Mara in the NBA and it might not have the spare playing time for him this season anyway.
What OKC really needs, long-term, is another big player to match with Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs. It would love to utilize Mara’s potential as a passer, even if he looks gassed after playing more than four minutes at a time right now.
It’s only one game but Mara seems a long way from being a player who can help the Thunder next season. Lucky for him, they’ve got time to wait for Mara and a championship-caliber team to guide him along.