The Oklahoma City Thunder made a big statement Tuesday as they selected Michigan center Aday Mara with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
It was a remarkable night for the Wolverines, as three Michigan alums landed in the top-12 picks. Morez Johnson Jr. went No. 9 to the Dallas Mavericks, while Yaxel Lendeborg joined the Golden State Warriors at No. 11. Mara then rounded out the trio at No. 12.
However, while Mara heads to Oklahoma City, his former coach is not happy about it.
Dallas Mavericks Head Coach Dusty May Doesn’t Approve of Aday Mara’s Thunder Move
Newly hired Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May went viral Tuesday for his reaction to the Thunder’s pick.
As the cameras panned to May just seconds after the selection, his animated reaction quickly had the internet talking.
New Mavericks head coach Dusty May’s reaction to Michigan big Aday Mara going to the Thunder.
May will now face Mara often in the Western Conference. pic.twitter.com/z8Uhh4vSiu
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 24, 2026
Earlier this week, May shocked the college basketball world by leaving Michigan to take the Mavericks’ head coaching vacancy. He guided the Wolverines to their first national title since 1989 last season, with Mara playing a major role in that run.
Now, the pair will meet regularly on opposite ends of the court in the Western Conference.
However, the May-led Mavs had the option to pick Mara. Dallas held the No. 9 pick but chose Morez Johnson instead of Mara.
Johnson is a reliable rim protector who outrebounded Mara during their time at Michigan, and he has also made strides on offense. The Mavs clearly had their reasons.
Aday Mara, meanwhile, brings his own skill set to the table.
He arrived as a four-star recruit out of Spain in the Class of 2023. On3 ranked him as the No. 3 center and the No. 21 overall prospect in his class. He spent his first two seasons at UCLA before transferring to Michigan, where he helped deliver the national championship.
In 40 games this past season, Mara averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He shot 66.8% from the floor and 30% from 3-point range.
His career numbers sat at 7.8 points per game on 61% shooting, making last year a clear breakout with the Wolverines.
The basketball world is also taking notice.
Basketball expert James Fletcher III broke down Mara’s tape and came away genuinely impressed.
“Aday Mara brings elite size to the table; that’s clear no matter what tape you watch,” Fletcher said.
The NBA Combine numbers back that up. Mara measured in with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and posted a max vertical of 28 inches. He also recorded a 24-inch standing jump before sitting down with several top teams for interviews.
“He also rebounds and protects the paint, creating additional value with his ability to facilitate from the center position,” Fletcher added. “Like many Michigan bigs under Dusty May, he also added value by playing alongside other bigs in a successful offensive scheme.”
Now, Mara will sign his first NBA contract.
According to Spotrac, the four-year deal will be worth $27 million. That agreement formally closes the book on his college run and kicks off a new chapter in Oklahoma City.
