The buzz around Los Angeles Lakers second-year wing Adou Thiero is absolutely electric right now, with players and front office brass alike raving about his growth over the past week. It’s a massive shift for a guy who barely saw the floor as a rookie, thanks to a combo of injuries and being stuck deep on the depth chart. But clearly, a healthy offseason has changed his trajectory, and the Lakers are ready to see what he can do.
From Bench Warmer to “Insane” Leap
Head coach JJ Redick himself couldn’t stop praising Thiero when he spoke with the media, and that’s not just coach speak. Even Luka Dončić, a superstar talent, made it clear how impressed he is. Luka didn’t pull any punches, telling ESPN LA radio during Media Day, “What I saw from Adou this year, the improvement is insane. Very excited for him.” That’s high praise from one of the league’s best, right?
Thiero’s own perspective? It all boils down to one critical thing: his health. He’s been battling various injuries dating back to his college days, which kept him sidelined and struggling to find his rhythm last year. But now, it’s a different story. “The main difference is [I’m] healthy. I got a chance to go out and compete this week in training camp,” Thiero explained. “That’s what I’ve been working on this whole summer, just trying to make sure my body’s right, figuring that out. Trying to stay on the floor so I can actually get out there and play.” You can hear the relief in that, the sheer excitement of finally being able to hoop without holding back.
Wielding That Athleticism, Smartly
Everyone knows Thiero brings insane speed, strength, and explosiveness. These are the “novel elements” the Lakers want him to unleash, the kind of athleticism that can change a game. But the trick, as Thiero has learned, is using it wisely. Injuries are no joke, and he’s now hyper-aware that going full throttle all the time might actually work against him.
“Definitely got to pick and choose when I can be athletic on the floor,” Thiero said. “Now, my athleticism puts me in harms way sometimes. If I’m in the air for too long, someone might try and undercut me or something. So, just knowing when to play off two [feet] and knowing when to put somebody in the rim.” That’s a mature approach for a second-year player, understanding that sometimes discretion is the better part of valor, even when you’ve got springs in your shoes. It means he’s not just a physical specimen, but a developing basketball mind, too.
Thiero’s journey isn’t a walk in the park from here. He’s staring down an uphill battle for rotation minutes in what everyone knows is a packed wing room. But after everything we’ve heard, and seeing how he’s positioned himself compared to last year, you gotta be excited to watch him fight for his spot when the games start to really matter.
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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