This game was never intended to be a memorable one for the Lakers. With nearly half the team sidelined due to injuries or given rest, Adou Thiero made an effort to energize an otherwise dull preseason back-to-back contest. His impressive one-handed dunk over two Golden State defenders stood out in the Lakers’ 124-98 loss to the Warriors at Chase Center on Tuesday. To navigate their second short-handed preseason game in as many nights, the Lakers relied heavily on their bench players.
Guard Quentin Grimes, the only player to start for the Lakers in consecutive games, contributed 12 points and three assists. Forward Sandro Mamukelashvili took on the center position and scored 15 points, including three three-pointers. Thiero, given a rare starting opportunity, added seven points and four rebounds, while Bronny James started as well, recording four points and five assists.
Star guard Luka Doncic sat out after putting up 21 points in just one half during Monday’s game against the Sacramento Kings. After showcasing strong defense against the Kings, forwards Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle watched from the sidelines on Tuesday. The Lakers also missed center Walker Kessler (finger), guards Austin Reaves (ankle) and Collin Sexton (lower body), and two-way forward Arthur Kaluma (lower body), all for the second straight preseason game.
Thiero has been gearing up for moments like this. Now in his second year, the forward is eager to make the most of his first full NBA preseason, having missed much of his rookie season due to knee injuries. He took part in summer league games, showing steady improvement in San Francisco and Las Vegas.
Early in the summer, Thiero often rushed too hard, crashing into the paint recklessly and even missing time due to a minor wrist injury from a fall. However, as the summer wore on, he adjusted to the game’s rhythm. In one Las Vegas Summer League match, he showed his potential by delivering 20 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks in 30 minutes, without a single turnover.
Thiero described his progress, saying, “That just came with playing more and understanding my role. My summer league role was different compared to the regular season; I handled the ball more and even created offense. I didn’t have much experience doing that initially, but as summer league went on, I got more comfortable, learning when to speed up and everything.”
Fighting for playing time among a deep group of wing players led by Williams and Thybulle, Thiero remains a part of the Lakers’ strategy to blend versatile perimeter defenders with an offense-first backcourt consisting of Doncic and Reaves. Reaves even called Thiero a “freak-of-nature” athlete, highlighting the unique skills he brings to the team.
Lakers coach JJ Redick expressed optimism, saying, “Our ceiling rises if he can contribute defensively and be impactful offensively through crashing, cutting, and painting play. I’ve seen a lot of growth in him over the past six or seven weeks, and that’s exciting.”
Fan Take: For basketball enthusiasts, Thiero’s development represents the exciting potential of young talent ready to emerge and make an impact in the NBA. His progress could not only bolster the Lakers’ squad depth but also signal a new wave of dynamic, versatile players reshaping the game’s future.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
