Pelinka: Adu is indeed similar to Anunoby, and he has the opportunity to grow into an elite defender

June 29th In the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Lakers selected Adou Tiero with the No. 36 draw.

Recently, Lakers General Manager Pelinka talked about the similarities between Adu and OG Anunobi on the show. Pelinka said: "Anunobi is already a top player in the league who has proved himself. Of course, we don't want to impose the pressure on the newcomers to be the next one, but Adu does have the same potential. He has a standard forward figure of 6-foot-7 inches (about 2-meter 01), with amazing explosive power, continuous improvement in shooting ability, and excellent empty-cut awareness. On the defensive end, he has full potential to grow into an elite defender, with all the hardware conditions."

Then Pelinka said: "A few weeks ago, Redick and I were specialized in The goal invited him to visit the team, and he learned in-depth about the child's character during lunch, which is crucial in draft considerations. He is a down-to-earth young man and eager to learn and grow. Our player development team happens to be good at cultivating such players, which makes us look forward to the future."

In the 2024-25 season, Adou Tiero played 27 games for the University of Arkansas, averaging 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.7 turnovers, with a shooting percentage of 54.5%, 25.6% from three-pointers, and 68.6% from free throws.