In Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday, the Los Angeles Lakers were in a must-win situation. With forward Jarred Vanderbilt dealing with a dislocated finger, head coach JJ Redick turned to rookie forward Adou Thiero late in the first quarter. Thiero immediately made an impact on the boards.
Early in the fourth quarter, as center Deandre Ayton appeared to lack intensity, Thiero returned to the floor. The Arkansas product played 13 minutes, leading the Lakers with eight rebounds while adding four points and one assist. He was a lone bright spot in the team’s 131-108 loss, which left them one defeat away from elimination.
Thiero spoke to the media about what it meant to finally receive meaningful playing time, especially in such a critical playoff game.
“I mean, just thinking about it, I prayed for moments like these and worked for moments like these, so just to get that opportunity has been special and go out there and do what I can for the guys,” he said.
During the regular season, the rookie saw only limited minutes, mostly in garbage time, averaging 1.9 points and 1.1 rebounds over six minutes per game. The 2025 second-round pick appeared in just 25 contests, battling injury issues that dated back to his final season with the Razorbacks.
Still, Thiero is viewed as having real potential as a rotation player thanks to his athletic 6-foot-7 frame, energy, defensive ability, and skill at attacking the rim. If he can develop a reliable outside shot, he could help the Lakers take the next step and become a key part of the core surrounding Luka Doncic.