Why Aday Mara’s perfect night is a sign of trust in Thunder rookie

Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Aday Mara delivered a standout performance, scoring 22 points on 10-for-10 shooting during a 128-126 preseason loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Head coach Mark Daigneault highlighted the outing as a clear sign of trust from veteran teammates, noting how naturally players are feeding Mara in the post and adapting to his passing ability.

Mara, selected 12th overall, added six rebounds, two assists, and a block over 22 minutes as a starter. Fellow rookie Bennett Stirtz also impressed with 20 points off the bench, earning praise from Daigneault for his maturity during the team's back-to-back slate.