The Los Angeles Lakers don’t have a recent history of throwing rookies into the mix on competing teams. Oh, wait, yes, they do (see Bronny James and Dalton Knecht).
Regardless, Lakers’ newest rookie Adou Thiero has yet to see action and make his NBA debut after suffering a knee injury while playing collegiately for Arkansas last season. But the most recent update on the first-year player is a positive sign for the team.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Thiero is listed as questionable on the Lakers’ injury report for their next game against the New Orleans Pelicans. It is the first time this year that the 21-year-old hasn’t been listed as ‘out’, with the highest potential at him making his professional debut.
“Lakers rookie Adou Thiero has been upgraded to questionable to be available to make his season debut in New Orleans on Friday,” the insider wrote in a post on X.
Thiero was drafted 36th overall in the most recent NBA Draft and was acquired by Los Angeles shortly after. He averaged 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists on 54.5% shooting in 27 games for the Arkansas Razorbacks last season, after transferring from Kentucky.
Adou Thiero Injury Update
Updates on Thiero’s status have been minimal, as it was known over the summer that he would miss some time at the start of the 2025-26 season. In late September, McMenamin reported he was recovering on the original timeline the Lakers’ training staff had laid out, though there were still some hurdles he had to overcome.
“Lakers rookie Adou Thiero told reporters at media day that he is experiencing swelling in his knee and has not been cleared for the start of training camp,” he wrote. “A source familiar with Thiero’s situation told ESPN that the rookie is in line with the team’s recovery timeline and has a week remaining in his rehab before being cleared.”
While the previous updates never gave a definitive date on a return, the Lakers’ injury report now showing him as questionable is a good sign for the team. It is hard to see the athletic forward getting meaningful minutes to start his career on a team full of stars and veterans, but the potential versatility he brings to the table could be beneficial for head coach JJ Redick’s team.
Lakers insider for The Athletic, Dan Woike, previously reported Thiero would return by training camp, but that obviously wasn’t the case. McMenamin said in late October that the rookie had been elevated to on-court and five-on-five action, but the latest news signals a debut is near.
Lakers Rookie Has Gotten Strong Praise Before Debut
Speaking right after the draft, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka compared Thiero to OG Anunoby. Though he chose his words carefully, the executive behind the Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis trade gave high praise for his team’s second-round selection.
“Obviously, OG is an incredible player that’s done so much in the league. I don’t want to put pressure on anyone to become someone else, but that archetype is definitely it,” Pelinka said on Thiero. “He’s got the 6’7″ frame, he’s incredibly explosive, I think he’s a developing shooter, he’s a lob catcher. I think on the other side of the ball, he’s gonna be an elite defender.”
Besides just his play style and potential fit alongside Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves, Pelinka was surprisingly shocked by the forward’s personality.
“JJ Redick and I actually hosted him in our building a couple weeks ago, took him to lunch and really got to know his character,” Pelinka added. “That’s such an important part of the equation and he’s a great young man and hungry to get better and learn and grow.”
After spending three seasons playing for legendary college coach John Calipari, the Hall of Famer also sang high praise for the 6’8” forward.
“If you watch the NBA Playoffs, it is so rough you better be built like Adou Thiero,” Calipari said before the 2025 NBA Draft. “If you’re not and you’re a younger player, you’re not playing in these playoffs. He is physically ready right now and athletically, hits his head on the rim right now.”
He is still not officially active to make his NBA debut, but Thiero getting on the court for the Lakers appears closer than ever.
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