Spanish club Basket Zaragoza attempting to block Thunder rookie Aday Mara from making NBA debut

Mara played for the club in his native Spain before playing three seasons of college basketball The organization Aday Mara began his professional basketball career with is publicly challenging his move to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Basket Zaragoza, the Spanish club that Mara played for from 2021-23 before he played college basketball at UCLA and Michigan, released a statement on Friday saying Mara is still under contract for the 2026-27 season and it will oppose him suiting up for the Thunder, who chose him with the 12th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. In a statement, Zaragoza said it has not received a formal request for Mara's international transfer and would oppose such a request if one is made.

The club said it has relayed its position to multiple parties, including the Thunder, the NBA, FIBA and the Spanish Basketball Federation. FIBA does not require an international transfer for players to play in the NCAA, but it does for other professional leagues. Spanish newspaper Heraldo de Aragon reported Friday (via Eurohoops.net) that Zaragoza is seeking a financial settlement: As the local newspaper Heraldo de Aragon reported first his former team claims to hold his playing rights and plans to block any international clearance until a financial settlement regarding his departure is reached. This case had initially progressed to litigation and