The Los Angeles Lakers see Adou Thiero as part of their future after putting him in the rotation when Jarred Vanderbilt was injured. Head coach JJ Redick wanted a ninth man to play against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. He had Luke Kennard, Jake LaRavia, and Jaxson Hayes coming off the bench. Redick could have used anyone, but he picked Thiero.
The 22-year-old rookie barely played in Game 2. Vanderbilt was active in Game 3, and the Lakers' season was on the line. They couldn’t afford to go down 3-0 against the defending champs. Still, Redick used the rookie over LaRavia, Vando, Dalton Knecht, and Bronny James. Fans may be upset about the last name, but it just means Thiero is part of LA’s future.
It didn’t take fans long to see why. Thiero had four points, eight rebounds, and one assist in 13 minutes of action. Oklahoma City gained no edge with the rookie on the floor. His athleticism is something the purple and gold lacks. There are still improvements to make, but Thiero has become the Lakers’ top young talent.
Adou Thiero has quickly become a key piece for the Lakers
The rookie played just 149 regular-season minutes. It was always going to be a development year. He wasn’t healthy during summer league and needed time to adjust to the NBA. Thiero has to improve his offensive game, including getting a more consistent jumper, but the defense is a plus. He competes hard and is earning his place on the Lakers after being given a small opportunity.
The Lakers desperately need players like Thiero. He is young and athletic. The 6’7 forward is set to make just $2.1 million next season. Every dollar counts in the second apron era, so rostering impact talents on rookie-scale contracts is a massive boost for any contender. Thiero could quickly blossom into just that for LA.
Nobody expected this. He barely played during the regular season and was limited to garbage time in just two contests in the first round series against the Rockets. Everyone thought Thiero would be glued to the bench again, but Redick turned to him for needed athleticism. The rookie instantly responded.
The Lakers traded up to draft Thiero at 36th overall in 2025. The 22-year-old is an older rookie with tons of potential. Rob Pelinka liked his defense and versatility. It was all about helping him grow his game into being an impactful role player. That quickly happened against the defending champs in a twist nobody saw coming.
Adou Thiero has quickly become the Lakers' best player under 25 years old. They want to retool the roster this summer around Luka Doncic, but fans can expect the rookie to stay. He gives them a stout defender with versatility off the bench. Those are key traits to match up in a playoff series. The Lakers hope to get closer to title contention, and Thiero has earned his place after a questionable regular season.
The Los Angeles Lakers clearly value Adou Thiero and plan on retaining him moving forward. It took just two playoff games against the Thunder to prove that. Bronny James is no longer LA’s top young talent. Fans aren’t happy, but finally having a draft pick that feels like part of the future is a plus for the purple and gold.
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