Los Angeles Lakers rookie Adou Thiero says regular playing time with the South Bay Lakers is helping him rediscover his pre-injury game after last year’s knee surgery.
The 6-foot-8 wing, selected 35th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, dropped out of the first round because of concerns about the knee injury he sustained during his final season at Arkansas. An offseason procedure forced him to sit out Summer League and part of training camp.
“Just being able to get back to who I am, remembering who I was coming off this injury and being able to get back up to speed with everything,” Thiero said after a recent South Bay practice.
The Lakers activated Thiero early in the 2025-26 season, but the veteran-heavy roster has limited his NBA minutes. He acknowledged he is still searching for his role in Los Angeles. “I still feel like, with trying to find where I fit on this team, I can’t really get back to that exact person,” he noted, adding that he hopes to “take some things from what I did in college and level up from there.”
Thiero’s athleticism has been evident in brief NBA appearances, though the absence of a consistent outside shot has complicated his path to a permanent rotation spot. For now, the organization is prioritizing his health and steady development in the G League.
The 21-year-old made his NBA debut on Nov. 15, 2025, against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum, finishing with four points and one rebound. After the game, officials initially withheld the game ball, but teammates—along with Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo—secured the keepsake for him.
Thiero is expected to continue logging major minutes in South Bay while the Lakers monitor his progress and evaluate future opportunities with the main roster.
Source: Lakers Nation
