Latest news with #Thiero
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
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"
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 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 story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Good news on Adou Thiero after he sat out of summer league
Rookie forward Adou Thiero may not get much playing time with the Los Angeles Lakers this season. But he is a player who plenty of people hope will become a significant contributor moving forward. The 6-foot-8, 220-pound 21-year-old can attack the basket off the dribble and is thought to have substantial defensive potential. However, he didn't take part in summer league play last month because of a knee injury he suffered several months ago while still playing for the University of Arkansas. Dan Woike, a Lakers beat writer for The Athletic, dropped some good news as far as Thiero's health right now during a recent mailbag article. "I've been told Thiero has been working out in the Lakers' facility and is expected to be participating once training camp opens at the end of September," Woike wrote. Thiero has lots of work to do when it comes to becoming enough of a perimeter shooter to keep defenses honest. But depending on how NBA-ready he is, he could perhaps get small slivers of playing time sooner rather than later. Last season, he averaged 15.1 points on 54.5% field-goal shooting, 5.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals a game. He logged a robust 6.5 free throw attempts a game, but he made only 68.6% of them.
USA Today
02-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Lakers' Adou Thiero spotted working out at team practice facility
Los Angeles Lakers rookie Adou Thiero was pictured working out at the team practice facility on Friday in preparation for his upcoming rookie campaign in the NBA. Thiero averaged a career-high 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals on 54.5% shooting from the field in 27 games as a junior last season at Arkansas. He was tied for the most points on the team (407), despite missing eight games due to a left knee hyperextension. The 36th pick has been around for much of the offseason after missing summer league as he continued to recover from his knee injury. He was also among those on hand to support Luka Dončić after the five-time All-Star signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension on Saturday. Thiero registered eight 20-point performances with the Razorbacks, including a season-high 26 points and 10 rebounds on Dec. 7 in a win over UTSA. He ranked second in the SEC in field-goal percentage and eighth in box plus-minus (plus-10.6). The 21-year-old Thiero reportedly agreed to sign a three-year, $5.95 million contract with the Lakers via the second-round pick exception. The first two years are guaranteed on the contract, which includes a team option in the last season. After missing summer league, Thiero is expected to be ready for the start of training camp next month. He is working to prepare himself to contribute to the team and is eager to get to work.
USA Today
08-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Details on Adou Thiero's rookie contract with the Lakers
During the second round of last month's NBA draft, the Los Angeles Lakers turned the No. 55 pick into the draft rights to University of Arkansas forward Adou Thiero by making two trades. Thiero's offensive game is a work in progress, but he has the athleticism and defensive ability to help them very soon. At 6-foot-8, he's the type of athletic wing the Lakers haven't had in quite some time. He officially signed his Lakers contract on Sunday, and fans are looking forward to seeing him play in a Purple and Gold jersey. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Thiero's contract is for three years and $5.95 million. The third year of the deal is a player option. Thiero, who was the No. 36 pick in the draft, averaged 15.1 points and 5.8 rebounds a game while shooting 54.5% from the field and 25.6% from 3-point range this past season. He will not participate in summer league play because of a knee injury he suffered a few months ago.
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: Lakers sign 36th pick Adou Thiero to 3-year, $5.95M contract
Former Arkansas forward Adou Thiero, the 36th pick in the 2025 NBA draft, signed his rookie contract with the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, the team announced. Thiero averaged a career-high 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals on 54.5% shooting from the field in 27 games as a junior last season. He was tied for the most points on the team (407), despite missing eight games due to a left knee hyperextension. The 21-year-old reportedly agreed to a three-year, $5.95 million contract with the Lakers, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The first two years are guaranteed on the contract, which includes a team option in the last season. Thiero registered eight 20-point performances with the Razorbacks, including a season-high 26 points and 10 rebounds on Dec. 7 in a win over UTSA. He ranked second in the SEC in field-goal percentage and eighth in box plus-minus (plus-10.6). The 6-foot-8 standout impressed the Lakers as a draft prospect because of his athleticism, physicality and ability to score in the paint. He also boasts a 7-foot wingspan that enables him to get deflections and block shots on the defensive end of the court. Thiero will miss the Lakers' stint in the California Classic and NBA Summer League as he is in the final stages of his return-to-play process from his knee injury. He is expected to be cleared for training camp.
