The Oklahoma City Thunder selected center Aday Mara out of Michigan with the 12th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, adding a prominent college basketball prospect to a franchise with a long history of drafting and developing talent.
Michigan’s Draft History With the Franchise
According to Basketball Reference data cited by OKC Thunder Wire, the Thunder franchise and its predecessor, the Seattle SuperSonics, have drafted four players out of Michigan across various eras. While the franchise has traditionally built its core through the NBA draft and draft-night trades, the talent pipeline from Ann Arbor features mixed outcomes ranging from seasoned collegiate standouts to players who never cracked the final roster.
Early Draft Selections: Baxter and Grant
Guard Dave Baxter opened the franchise’s historical connection to Michigan when the then-Seattle SuperSonics selected him in the third round with the 61st overall pick of the 1978 NBA Draft. Baxter played four seasons at Michigan, though he ultimately did not make the regular-season roster for the franchise.
Ten years later, the organization dipped back into the same collegiate pool by drafting guard Gary Grant in the first round with the 15th overall pick of the 1988 NBA Draft. Like Baxter, Grant logged four seasons of college basketball in Ann Arbor but did not appear in a regular-season game for the franchise that drafted him.
The Mitch McGary Era in Oklahoma City
Forward Mitch McGary gave the franchise its first Michigan alumnus to actually suit up in team colors. Selected in the first round with the 21st overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft following two seasons at Michigan, McGary spent two seasons playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
According to Basketball Reference, he played 52 games across those two campaigns, averaging 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds in 10.7 minutes per contest while shooting 52.7% from the field.
Aday Mara Arrives via the 2026 Draft
Center Aday Mara represents the newest addition to this lineage. The Thunder selected Mara in the first round with the 12th overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft following one season at Michigan, according to Basketball Reference records. As a newcomer drafted in the summer of 2026, he enters the organization as a drafted prospect yet to log regular-season minutes for the team.
Franchise draft history of players from Michigan
How many total players has the franchise drafted out of Michigan?
The franchise has drafted four players out of Michigan: Dave Baxter (1978), Gary Grant (1988), Mitch McGary (2014), and Aday Mara (2026).
Did Dave Baxter and Gary Grant play for the team?
No. Both Baxter and Grant were drafted by the franchise after playing four seasons at Michigan, but neither made the final roster.
How long did Mitch McGary play for Oklahoma City?
Mitch McGary played two seasons for the Thunder after being selected in the first round of the 2014 draft.
Worth a look