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#13

Aday Mara

Center · Oklahoma City Thunder · 7'0", 235 lb · Michigan · Drafted 12th overall, 2026
No. 12 pick (2026)2026 draft classMichigan
NBAOklahoma City ThunderCenters
Compare:vs Mitchellvs Carusovs Barnhizervs Wallacevs Holmgrenvs Okorie
In short

Aday Mara is a center the Oklahoma City Thunder selected 12th overall in the 2026 NBA draft out of Michigan. An incoming rookie who makes his NBA debut in 2026-27 — projected role, ratings and outlook.

Matchup model · next gameMedium confidenceTue, Nov 10
@Denver NuggetsSwitch-heavy
Proj. points
10.2
range 7.5–12.9
Line 10
53%
to go over
Team win
38%
113–116
Poi 10.2 Lean overReb 6.6 Lean overAss 1.4 Lean underPRA 18.2 Lean over
Likely on himJonas Valančiūnas· 74 Rim protectionSolid defender
10+ pts53%15+ pts5%

Model lines Mara at 10.2 pts (range 7.5–12.9) vs a 10 line — a lean to clear it (53%).

Model favors Denver Nuggets (62%), projected 113–116, ~229 total at 98.8 pace.

Full matchup breakdown · all markets →
Balladex Matchup Model — modeled from real roster ratings, scoring baselines & defender-matchup history. Schedule, availability & head-to-head samples are illustrative in this prototype; production wires live schedule, injury & player-tracking feeds. Not betting advice.
Scoring map · Aday’s projected shot profile
Hottest: Rim 53% · Paint 22%
Rim — 53% of scoring, 44% of shotsCorner 3 (L) — 2% of scoring, 2% of shotsWing 3 (L) — 3% of scoring, 3% of shotsTop of key 3 — 3% of scoring, 3% of shotsWing 3 (R) — 3% of scoring, 3% of shotsCorner 3 (R) — 1% of scoring, 1% of shotsMid-range (L) — 7% of scoring, 9% of shotsPaint — 22% of scoring, 27% of shotsMid-range (R) — 6% of scoring, 8% of shots
  • Rim53%
  • Paint22%
  • Mid-range (L)7%
Projected shot profile — modeled from role, spacing & shooting splits. Not tracked shot data.
✦ Ask anything about Mara
The Mara Story — narrated
Tap play to hear his story, told as a 90-second short.
🔊 Prototype uses your browser's built-in voice. Production would use a studio-grade AI narrator.

Aday Mara was the 12th pick of the 2026 NBA draft, headed to the Oklahoma City Thunder out of Michigan.

He hasn't played an NBA game yet — his debut comes in 2026-27. Everything here is a Balladex prospect projection until real box scores arrive.

— end of story —
Want the full numbers? Open the breakdown →
Draft
#12 2026
Michigan
Debut
2026-27
incoming
Role
Center
projected
LIFE

Roots & the rise

Aday Mara is an incoming 2026 first-round rookie center for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Selected 12th overall out of Michigan in the 2026 NBA draft, Mara will make his NBA debut in the 2026-27 season.

Because he has not played an NBA game, this page carries no season stats — only clearly-labeled Balladex prospect ratings and outlook, which update once real data lands.

Sources: 2026 NBA Draft results (NBA.com and multiple outlets); projections by Balladex.

BEYOND THE GAME

Beyond the game

Mara joins the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of the 2026 rookie class, out of Michigan.

PERSONALITY

The person

An incoming 2026 first-round center out of Michigan.

PLAYER DNA

Archetype & ratings

Archetype
Prospect big — rim runner / rprotect
Temperament
Steady
Leadership
52/100
Scoring48
Playmaking37
Rebounding59
Perimeter D45
Rim protection59
Spacing29
Athleticism59
Clutch45
12th pick, 2026Michigan
ANALYSIS

What the numbers say

The prospect projection

Mara projects as a prospect big — rim runner / rprotect. These role ratings weight his 12th-overall billing and position — a starting estimate for an unproven rookie, not a verdict.

ADVANCED

Advanced & historical

Advanced metrics

Draft
#12
2026, Michigan
Status
Incoming
debut 2026-27

Where he sits in history

2026Selected 12th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Hardware

#12
2026 Draft pick
OUTLOOK

Where it's headed

AI-generated · updated Pre-debut (2026)

An incoming center who debuts in 2026-27.

Aday Mara's outlook is all projection right now. Balladex will replace these estimates with real numbers as his rookie season plays out.

Contract

Status
Rookie scale (incoming)
Bottom line

Promising 12th-overall prospect; check back once 2026-27 tips off.

FAQ

Quick answers

Where was Aday Mara drafted?

Aday Mara was selected 12th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2026 NBA draft, out of Michigan.

Does Mara have NBA stats yet?

Not yet — he's an incoming rookie who debuts in the 2026-27 season. The ratings and outlook here are clearly-labeled Balladex projections until real box scores arrive.