The Lakers spent the offseason reworking the roster, and in the middle of all that turnover, one name has started to stand out in a way that could matter a lot by 2026-27: Adou Thiero.
Los Angeles brought in new players on long-term deals and moved on from most of last season’s playoff rotation, with a clear goal of getting younger and more athletic. That leaves room for a player like Thiero to push his way into a real role. He’s still only in his second year, and head coach JJ Redick has already spoken highly of him during training camp.
Thiero looks like the kind of player who can make noise simply by being impossible to ignore athletically. The second-year wing out of Arkansas brings a level of explosiveness that’s different from almost everyone else on the roster. Lakers fans have even turned it into a running joke on social media that he always seems to end up in awkward situations athletically, the kind no one else needs to be in.
That same athleticism is also what gives him the best breakout case on this roster. He’s a high-flying forward who seems ready to attack the rim every time he gets near it, and among the Lakers’ players, he might have the most untapped potential. Injuries limited him during his rookie season, but he enters this year with a clean bill of health.
The preseason has already offered a glimpse of what that might look like. In the Lakers’ first game on Oct.
5, Thiero put up three points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals. The next day, he was in the starting lineup and scored seven points on 50 percent shooting while adding four rebounds.
In the team’s third preseason game, he started again and finished with six points, three rebounds, one assist, two steals and two blocked shots.
Those early starts say plenty about how Redick views him. The Lakers coach appears to trust Thiero, and that trust could translate into regular rotation minutes once the season begins.
The path to a real breakout still has some obstacles. Thiero has to sharpen his offense, especially around the rim, where he’ll need to rely less on pure athleticism and more on pacing and decision-making.
He also has to become a dependable shooter. He shot just 14.3 percent from 3-point range during summer league, and he hasn’t hit a 3-pointer yet in preseason.
Still, defense is where he can make the quickest impact. His on-ball pressure during the first few preseason games stood out, and with so many offensive weapons around him, that may be the clearest way for him to carve out minutes.
Thiero missed the Lakers’ final two preseason games because of an injury, but Redick said after Friday’s shootaround that the absence was just maintenance. The former Kentucky and Arkansas standout played sparingly as a rookie, spending time in the G League while recovering and picking up reps.
This might be Adou Thiero’s Best 23-Second Defensive Possession in his young NBA career.
— Lakers Legacy (@LakersLegacyPod) October 13, 2026
Disregard the fact Draymond knocks down the Buzzer Beater.
Just watch the way he tracks Yaxel, and then hounds STEPH all around the court & forces the resets & kick outs.
ADefense, Rising. pic.twitter.com/Nh8pDJue6Y
Now, with the Lakers’ roster reset, there are openings available. It’s on Thiero to grab one and show why the team was so confident in trading up to draft him.
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