Los Angeles Lakers rookie Adou Thiero debuted in the G League on Friday, leading the South Bay Lakers in scoring during a victory over the Santa Cruz Warriors.
Thiero produced 19 points, four rebounds, three steals and one assist in the 115-95 win at the UCLA Health Training Center. He finished by shooting 5-of-9 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free-throw line in 19 minutes as South Bay improved to 4-1.
The 36th pick did the majority of his work in the paint after getting downhill on several occasions. He was successful in playing the passing lanes to create turnovers, leading to a couple of emphatic dunks on the other end of the court.
OH MY, @adouthiero 🤯#sblakerspic.twitter.com/ki7hNVc65h
— South Bay Lakers (@SouthBayLakers) November 22, 2025
Thiero was sidelined to begin the season after undergoing surgery to repair a left knee hyperextension sustained last season at Arkansas. He was eventually cleared to debut on Nov. 15, recording four points in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
The 21-year-old was assigned to South Bay on Thursday to log minutes, as L.A. had been off since Tuesday. The team will likely continue to explore opportunities for Thiero in the G League as he increases his workload after missing the start of the season.
Thiero was highly touted as a draft prospect this year because of his ability to score in the paint, physicality and defensive instincts. The team believes he can eventually secure a place in the rotation once he is completely up to speed.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Lakers news: Adou Thiero dazzles in G League debut with South Bay
