Chad Baker-Mazara’s fiery spirit on the court has led Auburn basketball all the way to the Final Four.

In the twilight of the 2024-25 season, Mazara took the time to reflect on the year he’s had with Tigers.

“There have been a couple. We won the Maui Invitational. We can say the Houston win was a pretty good one. Making it here is a good one,” Mazara said. But my favorite moment this season has to be off the court and being able to have my dad living back with me.”

Originally from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Mazara’s father Derrek Baker is the Head Defensive Basketball Coach for the Dominican Republic Men’s National Basketball Team.

He played college basketball for the South Carolina State Bulldogs from 1984-85 and professionally overseas. Last year’s NCAA tournament game against Yale was his first time seeing Mazara play at Auburn.

“He made a sacrifice. And I think his boss back at home appreciates that. He talked to him and said, ‘You know, I’ve got to get my son right. I haven’t been with him in a long time! And he moved in with me in Auburn, and he’s been with me throughout the whole season,” Mazara said.

“Me and him really didn’t have a relationship like that, and him moving in with me, gave us the opportunity to have those hard conversations and the father/son moments, even more.”

The presence of his father has helped Mazara a lot as he was named a finalist for the Julius Irving small forward of the year award.

Aside from his on-court success, Mazara said having his dad around taught him how to properly handle his emotions.

“That, to me, has been like my favorite moment for this year. Being able to have him there, he gives me a little more confidence,” Mazara added. “He stays in my ear, a little bit more and it’s different when it comes from Pops because I don’t want to let him down. Being able to see him every day just helps me out overall, mentally, physically, everything.”

Now on the Final Four stage preparing for one of the biggest games of his life, Mazara wants to execute at the highest level to make the other father figure in his life proud, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl.

“He’s been through a lot in his coaching career and at the beginning of the year, he told us how special we could really be with this team. A lot of people didn’t believe that. He stayed on our ears, telling us, ‘you guys really got this; you just have to focus and lock in’,” Mazara said.

“We will be able to determine our own future having a coach who just brings that confidence in you. We just want to make sure we get him one, because I feel like we owe it to him for putting this team together, the way he did.”

Jerry Humphrey III covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Jerryhump3 or email him at [email protected].