Zaragoza challenges Thunder rookie Mara's NBA eligibility — SkimNews
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- Basket Zaragoza issued a statement Friday challenging Aday Mara's eligibility, asserting the 21-year-old center remains under contract with the Spanish club for the 2026-27 season and would formally oppose any international transfer request from the Thunder.
- Oklahoma City disputes the claim, with a team spokesperson saying Mara's three years of NCAA college basketball mean no clearance from the Spanish team is required for him to play in the NBA.
- Basket Zaragoza said its position was formally communicated to FIBA, the Spanish Basketball Federation, the NBA, and the Thunder after the Thunder selected Mara with the No. 12 pick in June's draft.
- Mara left Basket Zaragoza in 2023 for UCLA; under FIBA regulations, NCAA participation does not require an official international transfer, but the club contends his contract was never terminated during his college tenure.
- Mara spent two seasons at UCLA before transferring to Michigan, where he started on last season's national championship team before being drafted.
- Mara averaged 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.4 blocks on 78.8% shooting in 23.3 minutes per preseason game, and is projected to join a deep rotation alongside starters Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren and bench big Jaylin Williams.
Why it matters: The dispute turns on whether three years of NCAA play terminated Mara's Zaragoza contract under FIBA rules. If FIBA sides with the Spanish club, the No. 12 pick — coming off a dominant preseason — could face a block on playing this season for a Thunder team that built a deep center rotation around him.
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