Lakers Rookie Adou Thiero Making Case for Bigger Role

There is one place where Adou Thiero is getting plenty of attention lately. It just isn’t with the Los Angeles Lakers, as relayed by Khobi Price of the California Post.

The rookie forward is making noise with the team’s G League affiliate, throwing down highlight plays and flashing the athleticism that convinced the Lakers to move up in the 2025 draft to grab him at No. 36 overall.

One moment in particular made the rounds this week. Thiero caught a hit-ahead pass near the three-point line, took one dribble and exploded into the lane for a poster dunk over an Iowa Wolves defender. The slam had the South Bay bench jumping.

Even LeBron James noticed. The Lakers star has reposted several of Thiero’s G League highlights on Instagram.

Statistically, the rookie has been productive. In eight games with the South Bay Lakers, Thiero is averaging 14.6 points on 63.2 percent shooting, along with 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals in just over 20 minutes per game.

Still, opportunities with the parent club have been hard to come by.

Part of that comes down to timing. Thiero missed summer league and the start of the season while recovering from knee surgery, then later lost time to a sprained MCL.

By the time he returned, the Lakers rotation was already crowded.

Coach JJ Redick said the organization remains confident in the rookie’s future.

“He’s an NBA athlete, and we’re trying to develop him into an NBA player,” Redick said.

That development is happening mostly in the G League. But if the flashes keep coming, the Lakers may not be able to keep Thiero there forever.