Aday Mara has heard the noise. He knows people are already calling him the guy who’s supposed to slow down Victor Wembanyama. But the Oklahoma City Thunder rookie isn’t spending much time worrying about it.
The 7-foot-2 center, who came over from Spain and played a season at Michigan, is fine letting the chatter sit in the background while he finds his footing in the NBA. After the Thunder lost to Wembanyama and the Spurs in a seven-game Western Conference Finals, the front office went out and grabbed Mara — widely considered the best rim protector in this year’s draft class. The move felt like a direct answer to San Antonio’s generational talent.
But Mara is taking a more measured approach.
“People can talk,” Mara said, according to reports from Mundo Deportivo’s Toni Canyameras. “I think it’ll be a process; I’ll take it step by step, and that’s it.”
He’s not wrong to be patient. Wembanyama just led the Spurs past the defending champion Thunder on his way to what looks like the start of a long career rewriting how people think about basketball. Stopping him isn’t something you figure out in a training camp or a summer league game.
Mara grew up watching the Gasol brothers and he’s still studying big men to build his game. “I watch videos of Pau Gasol, Marc, and many other big men to try to pick up a bit from all of them,” he said. That kind of approach suggests he knows this is a long-term thing. Not a quick fix.
He said as much when asked directly about being cast as the Wemby stopper before he’s even played a real NBA game. “Obviously, Wemby is a great player,” Mara told Sports Illustrated. “It’s gonna be a huge challenge. But I’m looking forward to it. I mean, yeah. I guess whatever the coach says. If I have to try to stop him, I will try. I’m ready, yeah. I don’t know how yet, but I will do it.”
That last part — I don’t know how yet, but I will do it — is about as honest as a rookie can get. He’s not pretending to have the answer. He’s just saying he’ll figure it out.
The Thunder re-signed Isaiah Hartenstein to a three-year deal, which locks in two seven-footers for coach Mark Daigneault. Mara isn’t expected to be the starter right away. But Oklahoma City drafted him with the long view in mind, and that view involves matching up with the Spurs as long as both teams are good. Which could be a while.
Mara and the Thunder are back in summer league action Tuesday against the Nuggets. It’s one step. He’s said it himself — he’s taking it slow.
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