Los Angeles Lakers rookie guard Adou Thiero made an immediate impact in his first G League appearance, delivering 19 points in 19 minutes for the South Bay Lakers on Friday night.
The 2025 second-round pick entered the game against the Santa Cruz Warriors at UCLA Health Training Center after missing the first 13 contests of the NBA season while recovering from knee surgery to repair a hyperextension suffered last year. With the parent club idle for four days, the Lakers assigned Thiero to South Bay to regain game conditioning.
Starting alongside Bronny James, Nick Smith Jr., Christian Koloko and Drew Timme, the 6-foot-6 guard shot 5-for-9 from the field, added four rebounds and collected three steals. South Bay won convincingly to improve to 4-1.
Thiero had been activated for Los Angeles’ Nov. 18 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks but did not play. Head coach JJ Redick has indicated the rookie is not yet in the regular NBA rotation, though the organization values his athleticism, rim finishing and perimeter defense.
South Bay’s balanced effort included double-digit scoring from Timme, Smith and James, yet Thiero led the team despite logging fewer minutes than the other primary scorers, underscoring his efficiency.
The Lakers have struggled in transition and are seeking additional wing defense. Thiero is expected to receive further G League minutes as he works back to full strength, with the possibility of NBA opportunities later in the season.
Los Angeles is 10-3 behind a league-leading field-goal percentage, but Redick recently noted that turnovers—currently keeping the club just outside the NBA’s top 10 in offensive rating—remain a priority to correct.
Source: Lakers Nation
