The Los Angeles Lakers love Adou Thiero’s defense. They believe in his motor, his athleticism, and the way he competes on every possession. Despite that, unless he improves his three-point shot, he is not cracking the rotation anytime soon.
Adou Thiero needs a jumper to earrn real minutes
That is the harsh truth for most young wings in today’s NBA. You can be a lockdown defender, a great rebounder, and a fast-break threat, but if you can’t keep the defense honest from deep, coaches will hesitate to put you on the floor. That is where Thiero is right now.
In college, his jumper was pretty way too inconsistent. Over three seasons between Kentucky and Arkansas, he shot just 28.4 percent from beyond the arc, with his percentage dipping to 25.6 percent last year.
Those numbers are not just bad; they are the kind defenses that exploit, especially at the NBA level. If that does not change, there is a chance that he becomes another “energy guy” who never quite breaks through.
Jovan Buha recently noted on Buha’s Block the comparison to Jarred Vanderbilt, who has made a career off his defense but has always struggled to stay on the court in big moments because of his lack of shooting.
Thiero has more upside with the ball than Vando; he can attack downhill, finish at the rim, and looks smoother in transition. If the jumper does not come around, the ceiling will continue to just stay low.
There are still some encouraging parts to keep in mind. Everything else about Thiero’s game does fit. The Lakers need wing defenders. They need young legs. They need guys who can cut, defend, and fly up and down the floor.
If Thiero can just become a passable catch-and-shoot guy, especially from the corners, that opens up his whole game and makes him a legit threat.
He is already ahead of most rookies defensively. He averaged 1.6 steals last season, can switch onto guards or wings, and does not shy away from physical matchups.
Playing next to elite passers like Luka Doncic and LeBron James should also give him clean looks and easy reads. He would not need to create his own shot, just hit the ones that find him.
It is also important to note that the Lakers did not just draft Thiero; they traded up to get him. That tells you they see something real. In order to earn JJ Redick’s trust and find his way into a crowded wing rotation, the shot has to come first.