Adou Thiero will be sidelined for the Los Angeles Lakers‘ season opener on Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors due to left knee surgery recovery, the team announced.
Thiero was diagnosed with a left knee hyperextension at Arkansas and missed the final eight games of last season. He was sidelined for summer league and has been limited on the court since the start of training camp due to the injury.
The 36th pick started progressing in his on-court activities last week after experiencing improvement in his knee swelling. The team said on Oct. 14 that Thiero would continue to build his strength under the direction of the performance team and be reevaluated in 2-3 weeks.
Thiero was highly touted as a draft prospect this year because of his ability to score in the paint, athleticism, physicality and defensive instincts. He also boasts a 7-foot wingspan that enabled him to get deflections and block shots.
Though in a limited capacity, the 21-year-old Thiero has caught the attention of several teammates and the coaching staff in practice. Lakers coach JJ Redick even marveled at his leaping ability, calling his athleticism “insane” in a media availability earlier this month.
Thiero is eager to get to work with the Lakers, though he isn’t rushing his return to the court. Once he is ready to go, he will be looking to make an impact in any way he can.