Aday Mara slammed by his coach: 'What the hell do you have to talk to a referee for?' / News - Basketnews.com

Spanish talent Aday Mara received high praise, but also heavy criticism from his coach at Casademont Zaragoza, Porfirio Fisac.

Credit: ACB Credit ACB

Aday Mara is one of Spanish basketball's biggest sensations. The young center of Casademont Zaragoza, who will turn 18 on April 7, is right now the country's greatest promise in terms of local talent.

Free throws this season

67%14,3Points made:14,3Accuracy:67,4%Place in standings:8Record max:23Record min:5Most made FTs:Christian MekowuluTeamACBStatisticsSchedule

In fact, he has already joined his name to those of Ricky Rubio, Luka Doncic and Usman Garuba as the only players under 18 years of age who have made double figures in efficiency in an ACB game. He did it in his last game against Obradoiro, where he had a PIR of 22 with 15 points and 5 rebounds.

Mara's name ended up exploding last summer, when he won the silver medal in the U-17 World Cup. Only the United States could best him and Spain, in a tournament in which he finished with a PIR of 25 in the final game, presenting his credentials to the whole world and especially to NBA scouts who have kept up with his development ever since.

This season, he has participated in 18 ACB games with an average of 11 minutes of play, in which he averaged 6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.8 blocks, in addition to almost 60% shooting from the field. All this for a rating of 7.3.

However, all that glitters is not gold. At least it seems that way if we listen to the words of his coach, Porfirio Fisac, who in the press conference prior to the ACB game against Breogan was asked about Mara's protests to the referees in some games.

The Spanish technician didn't shy away from expressing his feelings about the fact.

"I am not happy with him, I would like him to have a different attitude. I'm not talking about the game because he's growing and he doesn't need excessive help from the coaches," Fisac clarified.

"I'm referring to the way he behaves on the court, the way he speaks with the referees. I want him to lower those revs a bit. In this sense, his parents are extraordinary people who are helping him a lot, but it's up to him on an individual level," the 58-year-old tactician specified.

"There are things in which he has a lot of room for improvement and many of them aren't related to basketball. Small details like talking to the referees, or leaving the game if he doesn't get a foul.

Things I don't like to see in anyone, let alone in a young boy who is capable of yelling at an ACB referee. What the hell do you have to talk to an ACB referee for? Veterans are the ones who do that.

He's growing, he's an extraordinary kid, and he works with determination. But I think there are things he must improve on, to see what his maximum level is. It's not what people around him say about him, it's more what you do with yourself," Fisac commented.

"It's impressive how he's evolving. Playing with that ease and calm being so young. I don't know who to compare him to, maybe with Vlade Divac when he was young, but Aday's taller (2.21 m.). I like him a lot," Breogan's head coach Veljko Mrsic said before the game.

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