Aday Mara’s preseason has flipped the script in a hurry.
A few months ago, the Thunder big man was taking plenty of criticism for how he looked and what kind of NBA player he might become. He had already been tagged as the Summer League’s “most disappointing rookie,” and there were even rumors that Oklahoma City wasn’t fully sold on him during the draft process. That was the buzz surrounding a recent lottery pick heading into the league.
Now, four games into the preseason, the conversation sounds very different.
The biggest shift has been the growing chatter that Mara’s game resembles Hall of Famer Pau Gasol. That kind of comparison is not something to shrug off, especially for a player whose draft-night outlook included the more familiar Roy Hibbert type of projection.
The ceiling on those old comps never felt especially lofty. Gasol, though, is a different conversation entirely.
For the Thunder, that kind of development only adds to the appeal. Oklahoma City already has All-Stars and young stars in place, and if Mara really is trending toward that level of impact, it makes the team’s push to become the league’s next dynasty look even more realistic.
What has stood out in the preseason is that Mara is showing far more than the profile of a giant body living on the block.
At 7-foot-3 and 250 pounds, he can do the obvious stuff: back defenders down and win on the glass through sheer size and force. But the reasons people are suddenly talking about him go beyond that. He’s been showing quick, fluid footwork, a soft touch away from the paint, and real passing feel.
The production backs it up. Through preseason play, the 21-year-old is averaging 15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and a league-leading 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 79.3 percent from the field.
He’s also been used in a variety of spots. Mara has gone from being a player battling for two-way attention to logging minutes alongside pillars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. No matter the role, he has managed to make it work so far.
That is a long way from the early talk that he might not even crack the regular rotation until next year.
In Other News...
LeBrons Move East Says Plenty About The Thunder Right Now
LeBron James move from the Lakers to the 76ers says as much about the Thunders standing as it does about his own next chapter. He pointed to Oklahoma Citys talent when explaining the decision, a notable nod to a team that has become one of the leagues measuring sticks in the West. For a Thunder group that has spent recent seasons building itself into a problem for everyone else, being part of the conversation at this level is another sign of how far the franchise has come.
James also framed the change with an eye toward the playoff picture, expressing hope for a Western Conference Finals rematch between Oklahoma City and San Antonio. It is a reminder that the Thunder are no longer just chasing contenders, they are helping define the path around them. With several other players also heading East, the balance of power could shift a little more, and Oklahoma City will be judged by how well it handles a conference that may be thinning out around it. [Read more 🡒]
Chet Holmgren Now Carries A Huge Question For OKCs Offense
Chet Holmgrens place in the Thunders offense is still taking shape as Oklahoma City heads toward the new season, and the expectation is that hell be asked to do more than just anchor the middle. With the roster around him changing, Holmgren could spend more time on the perimeter, where his 3-point shooting may become an even bigger part of what the Thunder want to do offensively.
His playoff showing in the Western Conference Finals drew criticism, but Holmgren has kept the same message about moving forward rather than getting stuck on what happened in that series. For Oklahoma City, the bigger question now is how much his outside shot can open up the floor and help the offense evolve, especially if his role stretches farther from the basket. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Defense Just Sent A Clear Message About This Season
Bleacher Reports latest ranking of the leagues top 30 defenders offered a familiar reminder about why Oklahoma City enters this season with so much defensive confidence. Five Thunder players made the cut, with Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren all recognized for the work theyve already put on tape and the kind of impact they can bring again this year.
The groups depth is the real takeaway, especially when a team can stack that many respected defenders in one ranking and still have room to argue for even more attention. Holmgrens rise has already placed him among the leagues elite after he finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and earned All-NBA Defensive First Team honors last season, and the expectation now is that Oklahoma Citys identity on that end of the floor only gets tougher to handle. [Read more 🡒]