On Tuesday, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Spanish center Aday Mara with the 12th overall pick in the NBA Draft; Mara was a college champion last season with the Michigan Wolverines.
Aday Mara, a 21-year-old center from Zaragoza who stands 221 centimeters tall, was present at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the site of the draft.
A Historic Season with Michigan
“Perseverance was my greatest strength; I had to be patient—that’s what led to that little boy being chosen.”
Aday Mara said this seconds after being drafted by the Thunder, the 2024–2025 NBA champions.
“Everything I’ve done in my career, ever since I was a child, has helped me get where I am today,” added the Zaragoza native.
Mara averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game last year with Michigan.
He recorded a total of 103 blocks, a university record.
He arrives in the NBA convinced that the United States hasn’t seen the best he has to offer yet
View this post on Instagram
He was one of three Michigan stars selected in the first round, along with Morez Johnson (9th overall by the Dallas Mavericks) and Yaxel Lendeborg (11th overall by the Golden State Warriors).
Aday Mara was one of the few who were invited to spend the day of the NBA draft in the “green room.”
A space reserved for players aiming for the top spots.
Persistence was the best thing about me
Aday Mara
“People in the United States haven’t seen everything I can do yet.”
“There are things I used to do in Spain that I’ve stopped doing over the past few years here.”
“Now they’re realizing what I can bring to the team, especially this season, when I’ve had a little more freedom.”
Spanish center Aday Mara said this on the eve of the NBA draft.
With information from EFE
For more information, visit NuevaOnda.com