In just the lottery, the Michigan men’s basketball team has now had three first–round picks gone in one draft class, this time junior center Aday Mara.
Mara was selected with the No. 12 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, heading to the Oklahoma City Thunder as a rookie.
Hailing from his hometown of Zaragoza, Spain, Mara entered college at UCLA as a five-star product. But he struggled with the Bruins, entering the portal after two seasons.
Mara then found his home with the Wolverines, joining them this past season. He was immediately a fit in former coach Dusty May’s system as his size affected all aspects of the game. Specifically, his interior defense swallowed up would-be shooters and his length fettered drivers.
These efforts earned Mara honors as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and anchored Michigan en route to one of the best defenses in the country. This culminated in a national championship, helping the Wolverines earn their second title in program history.
Those talents just earned Mara a lottery selection, which will now be on display for the Thunder to utilize.
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