- Oct 16, 2026
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Basket Zaragoza has formally challenged the NBA eligibility of Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Aday Mara, claiming the 7-foot-3 center remains under contract through the 2026-27 season.
The Spanish club said it has communicated its position to FIBA, the Spanish Basketball Federation, the NBA, and the Thunder. Zaragoza stated it received no official transfer request from the Thunder and will formally oppose any such request. The club maintains Mara's contract was never terminated during his college tenure.
Mara, 21, left Zaragoza in 2023 for UCLA and later transferred to Michigan, where he started on the national championship team before entering the draft. Oklahoma City selected him with the No. 12 pick in June. FIBA regulations do not require international transfer clearance for NCAA participation.
A Thunder spokesperson said: "Aday last played three years of NCAA college basketball and therefore, as advised by the NBA, no clearance from the Spanish team is required for him to play in the NBA."
Mara averaged 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.4 blocks in preseason play while shooting 78.8 percent from the field in 23.3 minutes per game. Zaragoza previously contested Mara's eligibility when he departed for UCLA in 2023. The Thunder open their season Tuesday night vs. the Spurs.
Source: ESPN - Fri Oct 16, 1:44 PM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).