Aday

Mara

Despite missing time during the preseason with a quad injury, Holmgren is not on the injury report for Tuesday’s season opener. As a result, Aday Mara may not get the minutes that he did during the preseason, but the rookie should still be in the rotation.

Mara came off the bench with Isaiah Hartenstein making his preseason debut, but he was still able to make a solid impact in his 19 minutes. Mara has been productive during the preseason, and with Chet Holmgren (quad) and Jaylin Williams (heel) having been sidelined for the preseason so far, there is a chance Mara ends up playing a large role early on behind Isaiah Hartenstein. It’s a situation worth monitoring with the regular season set to start in just one week.

After not missing a shot in either of Oklahoma City’s first two preseason games, Mara’s hot streak ended on Monday. However, the rookie center still had a good night, recording a double-double along with six assists and five blocks. Mara’s regular-season minutes will depend on Isaiah Hartenstein’s and Jaylin Williams’ availability, but he’s looked good in the preseason.

With Isaiah Hartenstein sitting out a second straight preseason game, Mara started alongside projected starters Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, and Jalen Williams on Wednesday. The rookie looked very comfortable in that role, meshing well with the Thunder playmakers in the two-man game. Mara didn’t miss a shot from the field, and Oklahoma City posted a +22.5 net rating when he was on the court. How valuable the rookie is in redraft leagues will depend on Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren’s health, with iHart limited to 47 regular-season games last season.

Mara did not record any defensive stats in Tuesday’s defeat, but he did manage to make all six of his field-goal attempts. The 7-foot-3 center was also solid on the glass and as a facilitator, and he’s recorded ten assists over Oklahoma City’s last two games. With Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein starting, and Jaylin Williams and 2025 first-round pick Thomas Sorber also in the mix, Mara will face significant competition for consistent rotation minutes. However, he has the size and skill set to add value, especially on nights when the Thunder face bigger frontcourts.

Midway through the second quarter, Mara drove the baseline and stopped before turning around and delivering a two-handed dunk. The 21-year-old center had 10 points and was also active on the boards with nine rebounds. Mara will likely see limited minutes as a rookie behind a crowded Thunder frontcourt, but holds significant value in dynasty formats.

Mara didn’t have an efficient offensive game, shooting 33.3 percent from the field and committing five turnovers. However, he was active on the boards and did an excellent job of blocking shots. During the first half, the Hawks appeared hesitant to attack the basket, with Mara altering a few shots he failed to block. With Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams all in the Thunder frontcourt rotation, Mara’s role is likely to be limited next season. However, he’ll be a valuable player to roster in dynasty leagues, especially as Oklahoma City’s roster gets more expensive.

Both Mara’s strengths and weaknesses were on full display in this game. He made plays on defense, passed well and finished at the rim, but for a player his size, he’s a subpar rebounder. Still, despite the lopsided score, Mara’s performance was encouraging, and he should be in the rotation down low for OKC in year one. However, his role will likely be too limited for him to be a consistent producer in fantasy basketball.

After two seasons at UCLA, in which he was primarily used as a reserve, Mara transferred to Michigan ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. And the decision paid immediate dividends, with the 7-foot-3 center helping lead the Wolverines to their second national title and emerging as a projected lottery pick. Mara averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.6 blocks in 23.4 minutes, shooting 66.8 percent from the field and 56.4 percent from the foul line. While he is not going to offer much face-up scoring ability, Mara was placed in positions where he could help facilitate offense, and that should serve him well at the NBA level. With Oklahoma City needing to deal with Victor Wembanyama for the foreseeable future, adding another big man to the rotation is unsurprising. How much of an opportunity Mara gets as a rookie will depend partially on Isaiah Hartenstein’s future, as the Thunder hold a team option. Mara’s ability to block shots and facilitate offense makes him a solid asset for Oklahoma City’s frontcourt.