JJ Redick Has Promising Update on Lakers Forward Adou Thiero

Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick offered an encouraging assessment of Adou Thiero before training camp, saying the young forward has had “an unbelievable last two months of development.”

It was a strong endorsement, though Redick did not say Thiero had secured a rotation spot.

The distinction matters on a Lakers roster with several forwards competing for minutes. His progress has caught his coach’s attention; the next step is showing that it carries into full-team practices and games.

Thiero gives Redick an athletic option on the wing, where L.A. needs players willing to defend, run and work without the ball. With Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves directing much of the offense, a reserve forward does not need a large number of shots to help the team. He does need to make quick decisions and hold up defensively.

That creates an opportunity for Thiero. A productive defensive possession, a cut into open space or an offensive rebound can give Redick a reason to keep him on the floor. The challenge is doing those things consistently against NBA competition, especially when more experienced teammates are available.

The Lakers have added depth around Dončić and Reaves this offseason. That should make training camp competitive rather than leave minutes reserved for any one young player. Redick has said starting spots are up for grabs, and the same competition will shape the bench.

For Thiero, the value of Redick’s update is that it puts him in that conversation. It does not settle where he belongs in the rotation.

L.A. will get a better measure of Thiero’s development when he practices against the full roster. Defensive positioning, decision-making and comfort within the offense are more useful indicators than a single highlight play. So is whether he can maintain his energy while playing a defined role instead of trying to create offense every time he touches the ball.

Redick’s comments also suggest the work between Summer League and camp has mattered.

Young players can make visible physical and skill improvements during the offseason, but coaches ultimately have to decide whether those gains translate into dependable minutes.

Thiero has a crowded path. The Lakers have veterans who can fill forward minutes and other young players trying to establish themselves. His route into the lineup will come from giving Redick something the team needs on a regular basis.

For now, the coach’s assessment is a promising starting point. Thiero has made enough progress for Redick to single him out publicly. Training camp will show whether that development earns him a place in the Lakers’ plans when the season begins.