Lakers Rookie Flashes Two-Way Upside in Career-High Outing

It was a successful Sunday for the Los Angeles Lakers at multiple levels of the organization.

At the NBA level, Luka Doncic led the Lakers to a 110-97 victory over the New York Knicks, finishing with 35 points and eight rebounds.

With LeBron James sidelined, Austin Reaves added 25 points as Los Angeles secured its second straight win and fifth in the last six games.

Elsewhere, the Lakers’ G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, continued their own impressive run behind several of the organization’s young prospects and fringe contributors.

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Lakers Prospects Power South Bay Victory Over Santa Cruz

South Bay faced the Santa Cruz Warriors for the second time in three days on Sunday.

Two-way players Nick Smith Jr. and Chris Manon featured in the contest, along with NBA assignees Bronny James and Adou Thiero.

Thiero, in particular, delivered his most impressive performance of the season, flashing the two-way upside that led to the Lakers selecting him in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft.

Across 28 minutes, the rookie erupted for a career-high 25 points, shooting an efficient 10-of-12 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point range.

He also added six rebounds, two assists and one steal, while throwing down four thunderous, highlight-worthy dunks in an all-around performance.

Smith, Manon and James each contributed 15 points as the Lakers secured a 113-104 victory, but it was Thiero who stole the headlines.

Through seven G League games this season, the 21-year-old is averaging 15.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 steals and just under a block per game.

He has been highly efficient across those contests, shooting 66.1% from the field and 7-of-12 from beyond the arc.

That outside shooting touch adds another layer to his game and could boost his chances of earning NBA minutes in the future.

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Thiero Showing Promise After Injury Setbacks

Since being selected in the draft, injuries have slowed Thiero’s ability to build consistent momentum.

The Lakers have taken a cautious approach with the rookie following offseason knee surgery that sidelined him early in the campaign, as well as a more recent MCL sprain that kept him out throughout January.

Sunday’s game represented Thiero’s most productive outing in the G League this season, showcasing the athleticism, defensive versatility and emerging offensive upside that made him an intriguing draft selection.

The 6-foot-7 forward is coming off an eight-point outing at the end of February in his last game for South Bay, which marked his least productive performance at the level this season.

However, against the Texas Legends on February 20, Thiero poured in a then season-high-tying 19 points in just 20 minutes while adding seven rebounds and shooting a near perfect 7-of-8 from the field.

South Bay is currently riding a remarkable nine-game winning streak and sits second in the Western Conference with a 19-8 record. The team is just 0.5 games behind the Mexico City Capitanes.

Notably, South Bay has won all seven games that Thiero has appeared in, highlighting the rookie’s growing impact on winning basketball.

It could be a sign that his development could eventually translate to a role with the Lakers at the NBA level.

Matt Evans is a sports journalist from the United Kingdom, based in Paris, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA and wider global sport. More about Matt Evans