Adou Thiero just dropped 15.4 points, six boards, three dimes, and 1.8 steals a game in his five Summer League appearances, and if you watched him, you know the dude was everywhere. After a rookie season absolutely hammered by lower-body injuries, seeing the 2025 second-round pick explode like this is exactly what the Lakers needed. He’s already showing he’s a key figure in their new, younger, faster, and more athletic push into the Luka Dončić era.
From Injury Woes to Summer League Explosion
Last season was brutal for Thiero. Injuries kept him from getting any real run in JJ Redick’s rotation, with most of his 25 appearances coming in garbage time. He did manage to earn enough trust to hit the court in six playoff games, but even then, he was averaging just under six minutes. Fast forward to Las Vegas this summer, and it was a whole different story. It took him a game or two for the play to slow down, but once it did, he started flashing serious progression. We’re talking powerful dunks, vicious blocks, and a vastly improved defensive game that just jumped off the screen. Sure, he sat out the finale with a wrist injury, but the message was clear: this kid is ready to make a leap.
Carving Out a Role: Defense Wins Championships
The Lakers have a gaping hole at power forward, and there’s a real battle for minutes with guys like Jarred Vanderbilt, Ziaire Williams, and Jake LaRavia also competing for a defined frontcourt role. So, what’s Thiero’s path? It’s all about the defense, baby. He’s already one of the league’s best pure athletes, and that translates perfectly to playing off the ball next to Dončić and Austin Reaves on offense. But his real chance to carve out a serious role this season is by taking a massive step up as a versatile defensive wing. Even with limited production last year, Thiero showed crazy potential as a connective perimeter defender. Basketball Index had him in the 64th percentile as a ball screen navigator, 80th in pick pocket rate, and 83rd in passing lane defense! This guy has an insane awareness of where to be off the ball. Just think about that combined with his athleticism.
Remember that play where he’s the tagger off-ball while LeBron James and DeAndre Ayton are guarding the pick-and-roll? He’s on Scottie Barnes in the corner, but slides over perfectly to disrupt Jonathan Mogbo rolling, then reads Immanuel Quickley’s eyes as Quickley passes to Barnes. Thiero covers nearly 15 feet of space like a blur to steal the ball and create a transition look. That’s the kind of play that changes games.
What’s next for Thiero? He’s gotta keep building on that defensive prowess and establish himself as the go-to guy at power forward. If he can continue to develop that “fully idealized” version of himself with a reliable perimeter shot, watch out. This season, seeing him on the court in meaningful minutes, putting that defensive intensity to work, is going to be a blast. That’s how you define a role in the Luka Dončić era.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
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