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Lakers rookie Adou Thiero in a game against the Sacramento Kings

The Los Angeles Lakers are on the brink of postseason elimination ahead of a pivotal Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Los Angeles trails 3-0 in the Western Conference semifinal series, with Luka Doncic already ruled out for Monday’s contest.

Another defeat would end the Lakers’ season, but amid several games in which Oklahoma City has thoroughly outplayed them, one unexpected bright spot has started to emerge.

Lakers Rookie Adou Thiero Earns Increased Playoff Role

Before Game 3, rookie Adou Thiero had logged just 18 total minutes across four playoff appearances.

However, after Jarred Vanderbilt suffered a gruesome finger injury, head coach JJ Redick turned to the young wing for additional minutes.

In Saturday’s loss, Thiero played 13 minutes and recorded four points, eight rebounds, and one assist.

While his offensive production remained limited, his energy and activity stood out immediately. He outrebounded every Lakers player on the roster and pulled down three offensive rebounds.

“The Los Angeles Lakers see Adou Thiero as part of their future after putting him in the rotation when Jarred Vanderbilt was injured,” Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts wrote. “Oklahoma City gained no edge with the rookie on the floor. His athleticism is something the purple and gold lacks.”

“There are still improvements to make, but Thiero has become the Lakers’ top young talent.”

The Lakers traded up to select Thiero with the 36th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, with his size, athleticism, and defensive upside standing out on a roster that has lacked consistent wing depth for several years.

While Los Angeles is still expected to pursue perimeter upgrades this offseason, Thiero may already be positioning himself as an important part of the franchise’s future plans.

Adou Thiero Flashes Long-Term Upside for LA

Across 25 regular-season appearances, Thiero played just 149 total minutes, averaging 1.9 points and 1.1 rebounds per game.

The Lakers handled the rookie cautiously throughout the year following offseason knee surgery that sidelined him early in the campaign, along with an MCL sprain that kept him out during January.

Instead, much of Thiero’s development came in the G League with the South Bay Lakers.

Across 10 G League appearances, the 22-year-old averaged 15.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 block while shooting an efficient 60.4% from the field.

He also showed flashes of perimeter shooting potential, converting 10 of his 20 attempts from beyond the arc.

Just as importantly for Los Angeles, Thiero remains on a team-friendly three-year, $5.9 million rookie-scale contract that pays him $2.1 million through the 2026-27 season, with a $2.5 million team option for 2027-28.

“The Lakers desperately need players like Thiero,” Watts added. “He is young and athletic. Every dollar counts in the second apron era, so rostering impact talents on rookie-scale contracts is a massive boost for any contender. Thiero could quickly blossom into just that for LA.”

Thiero’s increased involvement in the Oklahoma City series also suggests Redick already has a level of trust in the rookie.

Earlier in the season, the Lakers head coach hinted that he intended to find minutes for Thiero before injuries interrupted his development.

With a healthy offseason and a more consistent year from an availability standpoint, the young wing could take a significant step toward becoming a regular part of the Lakers’ rotation next season.