Arkansas basketball’s Adou Thiero was selected by the Brooklyn Nets but is expected to join the Los Angeles Lakers after the teams agreed to a trade involving Theiro being selected with the No. 36 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on June 25 in Brooklyn. 

Thiero averaged 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game during his only season with the Razorbacks. He spent the previous two years at Kentucky with Calipari before following his head coach to Fayetteville last offseason.

The 6-foot-8 forward from Pittsburgh shot 54.5% from the field. He took 175 trips to the free-throw line, which were 78 more attempts than any other player on the roster.

Thiero did all this while missing eight games with a hyperextended knee. He suffered the injury in a win over Missouri on Feb. 22. He did not return until the Sweet 16 and played five minutes in a season-ending loss to Texas Tech.

Here’s what Thiero brings to the NBA. 

Adou Thiero positives 

Thiero is one of the most athletic prospects in this year’s draft class. He has an explosive first step, terrific leaping ability and a powerful frame that allows him to finish through traffic near the basket. He’s an unselfish teammate that attacks the offensive glass and keeps the ball moving in the half court. With his size and length, Thiero has the potential to become an elite defender who can guard multiple positions.

Adou Thiero concerns 

The trajectory of Thiero’s NBA career will boil down to his improvement from behind-the-arc. He shot 28.4% from 3-point range across three college seasons, and that number must increase for Thiero to be an offensive threat at the next level. He must also become more disciplined on defense and a better decision-maker on offense, especially when defenders apply heavy on-ball pressure.

Final thoughts on Adou Thiero’s NBA future 

Thiero was a three-star prospect coming out of high school. Across three collegiate seasons, he turned himself into a pro. It’s hard to envision Thiero’s progress halting at the next level. He possesses all of the tools to stick around in the NBA at a time when development is becoming less linear. If he finds a home with a patient organization, Thiero will carve out a long-term rotational role in the NBA.

Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jfuller@gannett.com or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.