07-08-2026, 10:52 AM
(07-08-2026, 10:14 AM)michaeltex Wrote: I know it's early days, but some comments from an OKC writer are interesting...
- Mara has scored 10 points in each game, but that is about where the positivity stops. He is shooting just 47.1 percent, not elite by any means for a player measuring in at 7-foot-3.
- He also amassed eight turnovers in the process. What could be even more cause for concern, though, are the box scores of players he has matched up against.
- In the first game, third overall pick Cam Boozer scored 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting. He had four assists compared to just two turnovers in 24 minutes.
- On Monday night, fellow rookie Zuby Ejiofor posted 19 points in 25 minutes. He also dominated the glass, out-rebounding Mara 15 to nine.
- In short, Mara looked unprepared for the physicality of the two bigs.
- Mara has arguably failed the first two defensive tests thrown his way in a Thunder uniform. Boozer is projected to be a proficient NBA player, but he is in no way on par with the Spurs' Victor Wembanyama.
- Mara, drafted as a possible "Wemby stopper," might have an uphill battle to live up to the name, at least in the immediate future.
- It's still extremely early, but these first two games can serve as a reminder that Mara is not a slam-dunk pick by any means. He will have to develop into a productive member of the OKC defense, and it may take some time.
- Likewise, fellow first-round pick Bennett Stirtz is just 7-of-20 in his first two games. It's a healthy refresher of what truly comes with bringing in rookies with the expectation that they help the team in year one.
We will see how the OKC picks play out. They are big on culture and guys buying in and sacrificing. Both of their picks are players who I could never reach a consensus on this year. I think both could be good, but I also left the draft not exactly sure what OKC left with. I think both players have unique skills but also don't really fit the blueprint of what made OKC so good the last few years. Will be interesting to see if they were right with these picks.