There has been so much excitement about a second-year Adou Thiero breakout for the Los Angeles Lakers. All it took was one injury report for it to vanish like Avatar Aang. Suddenly, excitement has been replaced with concern.
Thiero has been listed as out for the 2026-27 season opener against the Golden State Warriors. The reason? Left knee effusion/swelling. Why is that raising the levels of gulping around Los Angeles? It is the same knee that has given him problems since college and forced him to have surgery.
Anyone who has ever had knee problems can attest to just how troublesome they are. For Thiero, who relies so heavily on his athleticism, it can be particularly worrying for his game and long-term health. Hopefully for him and the Lakers, this can get sorted. However, the way it snuck up on the team and player ahead of the new season is an unwelcome sight.
Repeated knee problems are becoming a notable concern for Adou Thiero and the Lakers
There was so much excitement from JJ Redick about Thiero after his young forward got an opportunity to be healthy over the summer and work on developing his game. The Lakers coach raved about the improvements before training camp. This is a step in the wrong direction.
Thiero missed his window to get in the rotation during his rookie season due to the absences from his ailments. That got him left behind as the year went on despite there being a need and opening for him to be a contributor. Instead, Adou was limited in his on-court reps.
Thiero said it at Lakers Media Day this year: he has to be available for the opportunities to come his way. The athletic forward busted out the classic cliché discussing how availability is the best ability. Right now, he is missing that top attribute.
Hopefully the scare here is being overstated. There would be no better scenario for everyone involved than this just being a hiccup rather than a warning sign of what could be a consistent pattern for the future. Everyone just wants Thiero healthy and given an opportunity to thrive on the floor.
It still does send a chill down the spine seeing his name on the injury report next to a knee issue. There were murmurings after Thiero was drafted about the Lakers not being particularly thrilled with how his knee was managed before his arrival in Los Angeles. That chatter is suddenly an uncomfortable moment to revisit.
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