Former Kentucky and Arkansas basketball player Adou Thiero selected in 2025 NBA draft
Former Kentucky Wildcat Adou Thiero, who finished his college career with Arkansas after he followed John Calipari to Fayetteville, was selected in the second round, 36th overall, by the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA draft on Thursday night in New York. He was reportedly traded to the Los Angeles Lakers before the pick was made.
Thiero led the Razorbacks in scoring (15.1 points per game) and rebounding (5.8) as a junior last season. The 6-foot-8 forward missed eight games at the end of the season with a hyperextension to his left knee, though, and was only able to play 5:22 in Arkansas’ Sweet 16 loss to Texas Tech.
“I’m so proud of how far Adou has come from a 5’11 9th grader to becoming an NBA player,” Calipari posted on social media after the pick was made. “Incredible journey. Forget what round he is drafted in he is a player they will look at and go ‘how did he get drafted there that was a steal.’ ... Go do it Adou!”
“Thiero is one of the draft’s best athletes and most electric defensive playmakers but saw his stock slip after missing a large chunk of the season due to a knee injury that also limited him some during the predraft process,” ESPN’s Jeremy Woo said after the pick was made. “If he can return to full health, he’s an intriguing project for the Lakers to develop.”
Thiero averaged 7.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks as a sophomore at Kentucky in 2023-24.
He spoke with the Herald-Leader’s Ben Roberts about his future at the NBA Combine last month.
“I’m just thankful. Just blessed for the whole journey,” he said then. “I’m just grateful, really, you know, for everybody who’s been part of my life, helping me get to this moment and just going through everything. Everyone who’s believed in me. I’m very thankful for all of it.
“It’s great to go through this experience and realize all the hard work at the end of the day is paying off right now.”
This story was originally published June 26, 2025 at 8:50 PM.
