Spanish club contesting NBA eligibility of Thunder rookie Aday Mara over contract dispute

The Oklahoma City Thunder insisted Friday that rookie center Aday Mara is eligible to play for the team, despite claims raised by the lottery pick’s former club in Spain that it would need to release him from the terms of the contract he signed with them as a teenager for him to be able to play in the NBA.

The Spanish newspaper Heraldo de Aragón reported Friday that Liga ACB club Casademont Zaragoza claims it holds the playing rights to Mara — a 7-foot-3 center whom the Thunder selected out of Michigan with the No. 12 overall pick in June’s 2026 NBA Draft — through 2027, and plans to block his ability to play for another club “until a financial settlement regarding his departure is reached,” according to Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops.

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“Basket Zaragoza wishes Aday Mara the best of luck in his new sporting endeavors and remains committed to developing players in its youth academy,” Zaragoza wrote in a statement. “At the same time, as an organization, the Club has an obligation to protect its rights, ensure compliance with existing contracts, and defend the interests of Basket Zaragoza, taking all necessary legal action.”

The Thunder, for their part, say that Zaragoza’s statement and claims have no bearing on whether or not Mara will be eligible to suit up when the Thunder open the 2026-27 NBA regular season.

“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,” a Thunder spokesperson told Yahoo Sports.

Oklahoma City Thunder rookie center Aday Mara protects the rim during a preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks. (AP/Mike Stewart)

(AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Mara began his playing career with Zaragoza, his hometown club, making his first-team debut back in 2021 at the age of 16. When Mara came over to the U.S. in 2023, signing with UCLA as a heralded five-star recruit, Zaragoza contested his eligibility, claiming that he remained under contract with his club in Spain and thus was not free to play elsewhere.

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/spanish-club-contesting-nba-eligibility-of-thunder-rookie-aday-mara-over-contract-dispute-174759365.html

Author : Dan Devine

Publish date : 2026-10-16 17:47:00

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