Basket Zaragoza disputes Aday Mara's eligibility with Oklahoma City Thunder

A legal dispute has emerged between the Spanish basketball club Basket Zaragoza and the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder regarding the eligibility of rookie center Aday Mara. Basket Zaragoza claims that Mara remains under contract with the Spanish club through the 2026-27 season, following his unilateral departure in 2023 to play college basketball in the United States.

The Spanish club has notified the NBA, FIBA, and the Spanish Basketball Federation that it intends to formally oppose any international transfer request for the player. Zaragoza maintains that Mara's time in the NCAA did not dissolve his professional agreement and has cited an unpaid €600,000 buyout clause as part of the ongoing conflict.

In response, the Oklahoma City Thunder stated that, according to NBA advice, no clearance from the Spanish team is required for Mara to play. The franchise noted that because Mara completed three years of NCAA basketball, he meets the requirements for eligibility within the NBA system. While the dispute may impact international transfer proceedings, the Thunder expect his debut to proceed as scheduled.