Austin Reaves praised Los Angeles Lakers rookie Adou Thiero, calling him “almost too athletic.” Reaves encouraged Thiero to play aggressively, crash the boards, and assert himself physically.
“I told him before, I was like I want you to make the game as nasty as possible, like run somebody over, go get offensive rebounds… He’s so athletic, like he’s almost like — if there’s a thing of too athletic he’s almost that,” Reaves said on Young Man & The Three.
Thiero, 21, was selected by the Brooklyn Nets with the 36th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and traded to the Lakers for the 45th pick and cash considerations. The forward spent his college career at Kentucky and Arkansas, showing steady improvement and averaging 15.1 points and 5.8 rebounds in his final season.
In the preseason opener, the Lakers lost 103-81 to Phoenix, with Reaves leading the team with 20 points and Bronny James adding eight. LeBron James and Luka Doncic sat out as both manage their off-season workloads and prepare for the regular season.
Thiero’s athleticism and versatility fit the Lakers’ needs, allowing him to impact both ends of the floor. His ability to contribute on defense, grab rebounds, and finish around the rim makes him a promising addition to the roster.
The Lakers’ starting lineup included Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Reaves, with Thiero seeing limited minutes but gaining valuable experience in his first professional game.
Phoenix jumped to a 27-point lead in the third quarter, led by Devin Booker’s 24 points and Dillon Brooks’ 10 points.
