Spanish team challenging Thunder rookie Mara's NBA eligibility
ESPN • • sports
Key Points:
- Basket Zaragoza claims Aday Mara is still under contract with them for the 2026-27 season and challenges his eligibility to play in the NBA this season.
- The Oklahoma City Thunder dispute this, stating that Mara, having played three years of NCAA basketball, does not require clearance from the Spanish club to join the NBA.
- Basket Zaragoza has not received a formal international transfer request from the Thunder and has communicated its opposition to FIBA, the Spanish Basketball Federation, the NBA, and the Thunder.
- Mara left Basket Zaragoza in 2023 to play college basketball in the U.S., first at UCLA and then at Michigan, where he was part of the national championship team before entering the NBA draft.
- According to FIBA rules, no official international transfer is needed for NCAA participation, but Basket Zaragoza maintains that Mara's contract was not terminated during his college years.
