The Los Angeles Lakers are keeping close tabs on second-round pick Adou Thiero while he works back from a knee issue, even as flashes of his athleticism surface during rehab.
Head coach JJ Redick reacted Saturday after seeing team-released footage of the 21-year-old forward leaping for a dunk with his head level to the rim. “Yeah, it’s insane … head at the rim. It’s insane,” Redick told reporters following practice at the team’s El Segundo facility.
Los Angeles moved up twice in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft to secure Thiero, a 6-foot-7 wing defender from Arkansas known for aggressive on-ball pressure and physicality. However, the rookie has yet to appear in live action, sitting out Summer League in Las Vegas and all preseason games to date.
Redick emphasized the organization will not rush Thiero back. “He’s been a modified participant,” the coach explained. “He’s been involved in everything but live. I don’t have a good answer for when that changes. We’re going to really take our time, make sure all of his biomechanics are correct, shut off any swelling in that knee and protect his long-term health.”
The Lakers conclude their exhibition schedule on Oct. 17, leaving Thiero’s availability for the opener uncertain. Given the crowded roster and his recent inactivity, a rotation role may not materialize until later in the season.
Should he need additional reps, Thiero has expressed a willingness to play for the South Bay Lakers, the franchise’s G League affiliate—a common path for second-round selections looking to acclimate to the professional game.
Source: Lakers Nation
