TITLE: Michigan’s Aday Mara Appreciates Ongoing Support From Lakers Legend Pau Gasol
SLUG: michigan-aday-mara-appreciates-support-from-pau-gasol
CONTENT:
INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan Wolverines center Aday Mara said he is grateful for the guidance and encouragement he receives from Hall of Famer Pau Gasol after helping the Wolverines capture the NCAA men’s basketball championship on Monday night.
Mara, wearing No. 15, contributed to Michigan’s 69-63 victory over the UConn Huskies on April 6, 2026, at Lucas Oil Stadium. The 7-foot-3 freshman from Zaragoza, Spain, is projected as a first-round selection — potentially inside the top 10 — in June’s NBA Draft.
Pau Gasol’s Mentorship
Speaking with The Sporting Tribune, Mara named Pau and Marc Gasol as his primary role models. “We’ve met in person a couple times; he’s a really good person,” Mara said of Pau. The rookie center added that he once faced Marc in a game as a youngster and received encouraging text messages from Pau beforehand.
Gasol followed Mara’s championship performance closely, posting multiple messages on X (formerly Twitter) during and after the title game. In Spanish, the Lakers great highlighted Mara as the first Spanish men’s player to appear in an NCAA final and congratulated him on making history.
Draft Outlook
Mock drafts place Mara anywhere from the top 10 to the mid-20s, but consensus expectations have him firmly in the first round. Gasol, who routinely supports emerging talent, is expected to continue following Mara’s progress once he reaches the NBA.
Elsewhere Around the League
In another meeting between a rising prospect and a franchise icon, Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg faced LeBron James on Sunday. Flagg led Dallas to a win but said he was most excited about sharing the court with the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.
The Wolverines’ championship run and Mara’s connection to one of Spain’s most decorated players underscore the international reach of college basketball and its pipeline to the NBA.
Source: Lakers Nation
