Oklahoma City Thunder Oversees Aday Mara’s Intensive Pre-NBA Training in Tenerife

Aday Mara’s transition to elite American basketball is no longer just a promising prospect; it has become a high-performance project managed directly by the NBA. According to local reports, the Zaragoza-born center recently completed a training stint in Tenerife that served as a critical phase of his physical preparation ahead of his debut with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder’s commitment to Mara’s development was clear, as Maral Javadifar—the franchise’s director of physical performance—traveled to the island to oversee the work. Javadifar, who played a key role in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2021 Super Bowl victory, supervised a week of intensive training alongside coach Carlos Martínez, who is known for his work with NBA player Santi Aldama. This level of oversight highlights a shift in how American teams manage European talent, now monitoring their players' summer preparation with surgical precision.

The training program took place at the RED Recuperación center and the Manu Fit gym, with additional sessions held at Las Teresitas beach to utilize sand and water for conditioning. This preparation is vital: Mara, the 12th overall pick in the recent draft, is readying himself for a demanding schedule that includes his upcoming debut with the Spanish senior national team for the FIBA qualifiers against Portugal and Greece.

Mara’s choice of Tenerife was influenced by his family roots, providing an ideal setting for this personalized preseason. The collaboration between the Thunder’s staff and local specialists, including Xisco Sanz, reflects the high level of professionalization surrounding the new generation of Spanish basketball players. Following his time in the Canary Islands, Mara will continue training in Madrid and Zaragoza, keeping his focus on the NBA regular season opener on October 20, where the results of this rigorous plan will be put to the test.