It was only a matter of time. The talent was there, the details were there, and the context was right. The only thing missing was the opportunity. And as the Thunder decided to rest Chet Holmgren, Aday Mara was able to log more minutes, and the Aragonese rookie delivered his first big night in the NBA.
The center logged his first double-double in OKC’s 125-114 win over Phoenix, contributing 11 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks in 19 minutes, a stat line that confirms his ability to produce once he has a little run. And while it’s true that he didn’t meet the league’s most intimidating interior rotation in Khaman Maluach and Duop Reath, he did show that he can translate the efficiency he had hinted at during the preseason to the regular season.
His production went beyond the numbers, as the Thunder involved him in the play from the moment he stepped on the floor, leveraging his shot-blocking ability to create space and allow teammates to knock down some looks. But his reward came quickly, as in one of those blocks Caruso stepped into the painted area, waited for the continuation, and fed him an alley oop that let him score his first points of the night.
It was in the second quarter, however, that his performance began to take on another dimension. His presence on defense, with the Thunder spending many minutes in zone, started to stand out; he gradually racked up rebounds, and his scoring tally filled in various ways. First, another continuation after a screen sent him to the line for two free throws; then a transition sprint allowed him to slam another dunk, and finally a put-back after a turnover by Shai brought him into double digits and capped a strong stretch for him individually.
In fact, when he left the floor for the bench just a few seconds later, the Paycom Center greeted his work with loud applause. The home crowd knew they were witnessing his first standout night.
He carried that momentum into the second half, where he continued to grow bigger under the boards until, with another palm, he reached double digits in points, and a bit later did the same on the boards. All the while, Mara’s presence helped OKC continuously extend its lead, closing the game without fanfare but without any real challenge. A victory that, in the context of a team that wins games even with its eyes closed, will probably fade from memory.
But not in the memory of a rookie who, if he keeps this up, could prove to be the first of many double-doubles.
