Aday Mara has taken 15 shots in his first two NBA preseason games and made every one. The Oklahoma City rookie’s latest contribution was 22 points on 10-for-10 shooting against Milwaukee, with six rebounds, two assists and a block in 25 minutes.
That is enough to put him on fantasy watchlists. It is not enough to pencil him into Oklahoma City’s regular-season rotation.
The Thunder lost Wednesday’s exhibition 128–126, but Mara supplied another encouraging performance after his perfect shooting debut against New Orleans. The important distinction: he is making the most of an opportunity created by frontcourt absences, rather than demonstrating that those minutes will remain his when everyone is available.
Two games, no missed field goals
The NBA’s official recap confirms Mara’s 22 points, six rebounds and 10-for-10 shooting against the Bucks. News 9’s reporting adds the 25 minutes, two assists, one block and no turnovers.
His first outing was more than a brief burst of efficient scoring. Against the Pelicans, Mara recorded 12 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three blocks in 18 minutes, making all five field-goal attempts. The NBA’s recap of that game confirms the scoring, shooting, rebounds and blocks, while RotoWire’s subsequent report cross-checks the complete statistical line.
| Opponent | Minutes | Points | Field goals | Rebounds | Assists | Blocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 18 | 12 | 5-for-5 | 9 | 3 | 3 |
| Milwaukee | 25 | 22 | 10-for-10 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
Across those two appearances, that is 34 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and four blocks in 43 minutes.
The perfect field-goal percentage is the headline, but the supporting numbers matter. Mara has contributed on the glass, moved the ball and registered blocks in both games. Those are more useful reasons to keep watching than an expectation that he can sustain anything resembling this shooting percentage.
Perfect from the field also does not mean perfect from the line: he went 2-for-3 on free throws against Milwaukee. Neither that result nor the two-game shooting streak is a reliable forecast of his season-long percentages.
The opportunity came with an important caveat
Mara started against Milwaukee with Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams unavailable, according to USA Today’s Thunder Wire game analysis. NBC Sports’ fantasy report also confirms that Hartenstein missed a second consecutive preseason game and that Mara started alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.
That context cuts both ways.
Mara was not simply accumulating a line in an isolated end-of-bench audition. He had a chance to play with established Thunder creators. Producing efficiently in that setting is a positive early sign: his scoring fitted into a lineup featuring players who will drive Oklahoma City’s offence.
But the depleted centre group also makes his 25 minutes difficult to translate directly into a regular-season projection. The game showed what he could contribute when given an opening. It did not establish how Oklahoma City will divide minutes when its other big men return.
A bigger role is possible; a bigger role has not been confirmed. The available reporting does not establish a guaranteed regular-season minutes allocation for Mara.
Fantasy verdict: watch the role, not the streak
For standard redraft leagues, Mara belongs on the watchlist rather than in the must-add category solely because of these two games. That is a fantasy assessment, not a reported decision by the Thunder.
The attraction is clear. Rebounds and blocks offer a potential category foundation, while efficient finishing could help field-goal percentage if he earns enough attempts. His five assists across the two outings add another encouraging element, although the sample is far too small to set an expectation.
The missing ingredient is dependable playing time. A centre can be highly productive in a preseason start and still have a narrow regular-season role behind established options. Managers should not treat 25 exhibition minutes as a nightly floor.
Deep-league managers can justify a speculative bench spot more easily, provided it does not require sacrificing a player with a secure role. Dynasty managers should pay closer attention to the breadth of Mara’s early production than to the unbeaten shooting streak. Neither approach requires assuming an immediate rotation breakthrough.
What would strengthen the case?
The next useful evidence is whether Mara continues to receive meaningful minutes when Oklahoma City has more of its frontcourt available. Look for repeat opportunities alongside the main rotation, rather than only a strong final box score.
His defensive contributions and ability to stay involved without needing a large scoring workload will also matter. So will any clear coaching guidance about his role. Until then, the distinction between demonstrated production and projected opportunity should remain intact.
Mara has delivered an excellent opening audition. Fifteen makes without a miss earns attention; a repeatable place in the rotation is what would turn that attention into reliable fantasy value.
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