Lakers Rookie Adou Thiero Selects No. 1 Jersey in Honor of Derrick Rose
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The Los Angeles Lakers’ second-round pick Adou Thiero will wear No. 1 when he makes his NBA debut, a choice he says stems from childhood admiration for former league MVP Derrick Rose.
Thiero, a 6-foot-9 forward drafted out of Arkansas with the 45th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, explained his decision during a recent interview shared by NBA on Prime. “My first favorite player was Derrick Rose,” he said. “I tried to stick with the number I wore in college, but I wasn’t able to get it, so I went back to what I started with.”
The rookie wore No. 3 throughout his collegiate career, but that number was last used in Los Angeles by Anthony Davis before Davis was included in the blockbuster trade that brought Luka Dončić to the Lakers. Although No. 3 has not been retired, it is currently unavailable to Thiero.
Los Angeles views the 21-year-old as an elite athlete with the potential to contribute on both ends of the floor. A minor injury kept him out of Summer League competition, but the team expects him to be ready for preseason action.
Thiero joins a roster led by LeBron James and Dončić, who has spoken about expanding his leadership role during training camp. The Lakers open preseason play in early October.
Source: Lakers Nation
