John Calipari details what makes Adou Thiero NBA-ready: "If you're not physically able to go to hand-to-hand combat, you can't play in these games"

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John Calipari details what makes Adou Thiero NBA-ready: "If you're not physically able to go to hand-to-hand combat, you can't play in these games" originally appeared on Basketball Network.
The Los Angeles Lakers selected Adou Thiero, expecting him to ease the loss of Dorian Finney-Smith, but John Calipari believes he can do more than just fill a gap. In an interview with Jim Rome before the 2025 NBA Draft, Calipari, Thiero's coach at Arkansas, is confident that his ward is as NBA-ready as it gets.
"Jim, if you're watching the NBA right now, these playoffs, if you're not a man, NBA, no boys allowed," Calipari said with conviction. "If you're not physically able to hand-to-hand combat, if you can't play when a guy's holding and grabbing, if you can't go get a rebound when two guys are just absolutely clubbing you, if you can't make a clayup where you got hit twice, you can't play in these games."
"Adou Thiero can play in that kind of game. He physically can do it and athletically can do it," added the Razorbacks coach.
Steal of the draft?
As mentioned, Calipari's interview with Rome occurred days before the draft. Whether they listened to Cal hyping his player up, the Lakers made an aggressive move to snag Thiero at No. 36. Then, the franchise wasted no time locking the 6'8" forward into a three-year deal worth nearly $6 million.
In agreement with Calipari's assessment of Thiero, Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka had nothing but nice things to say. According to Pelinka in an interview with Spectrum SportsNet, the team's scouting department had Thiero as a first-round talent.
"Just the way the game is being officiated (in the 2025 playoffs), now there's a lot more physicality in the game. And so, being able to get a young man like Adou who's just gifted. He's a beast," Pelinka told James Worthy.
The Lakers are looking to get younger and more athletic on the wings and Thiero fits the bill perfectly. He had the tools and motor to be a good 3-and-D player at the next level. Although he did not shoot the three well in college, he is a measured 6'8" on shoes with a seven-foot wingspan.
Thiero will have to work on his shooting to be effective at the next level, although that is the easiest part of his job. After all, Kawhi Leonard shot only 25 percent from deep in college but has now connected on a 40 percent clip over the past three seasons.
"I'm so proud of how far Adou has come from a 5'11 9th grader to becoming an NBA player. Incredible journey. Forget what round he is drafted in he is a player they will look at and go "how did he get drafted there that was a steal"," Cali wrote on X.Thiero's other attributes
Besides being physically ready to battle the big boys in the NBA, Thiero had other basketball characteristics that should help him on the next level. He actually grew up playing point guard, but eventually switched to his current position because of a massive growth spurt. With smoothening around the edges, Calipari feels Thiero is ready to go.
"I would tell somebody, just like I did with Maxey and Quickley, if you pass on him… I'm telling you he can come on the league and help you right now because of what he is physically," added Cal.
Lakers fans didn't get a first look at Thiero during Summer League, but that absence shouldn't lower expectations. His real test will come when the season tips off, where his size, motor and defensive instincts can slot into meaningful minutes.
For now, Calipari's confidence and Pelinka's praise will have to hold them over. If Thiero proves as NBA-ready as both insist, the Lakers might have landed a second-round pick who's built for moments that actually count.This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.