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Thunder's Mara Transformed by New Athletic Coach
10 Oct
Summary
- New athletic director Maral Javadifar worked with Aday Mara in Spain.
- Mara improved conditioning significantly over the past four months.
- Mara scored 34 points on perfect shooting in two preseason games.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have quickly benefited from the addition of Maral Javadifar, who joined the team this past summer after a seven-year tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Javadifar, now the NBA's director of athletic performance, immediately focused on 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara.
Mara's conditioning and stamina were concerns following a disappointing 2026 Summer League. Javadifar traveled to Spain to work with Mara, utilizing the country's beaches for intense training sessions. This intensive work between the end of Summer League and August's FIBA World Cup qualifiers has yielded remarkable results.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault praised Javadifar's diverse experience, noting her basketball background and extensive NFL career, highlighting her professionalism and consistency as key assets. Mara himself recognizes the necessity of improved in-game speed to maximize his potential in the demanding NBA schedule.
Mara's transformation is evident in his preseason performance. In two games, he has scored an impressive 34 points on a perfect 15-of-15 shooting, alongside 15 rebounds. He has outplayed notable frontcourt players and demonstrated no signs of fatigue, even while playing back-to-back games. This significant improvement in conditioning over the last four months is strongly correlated with Javadifar's arrival and her consistent, professional approach.
