Los Angeles Lakers rookie Adou Thiero has become the talk of the town after a playful social media exchange with teammate Jake LaRavia went viral. The incident occurred after LaRavia shared highlights from the Lakers' recent five-game road trip, prompting Thiero to humorously point out a missed dunk opportunity.
The Viral Social Media Exchange
The drama unfolded on Instagram when Jake LaRavia posted a photo of himself attempting to convert an alley-oop pass from Austin Reaves during Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks. The play occurred with less than four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' 119-95 victory over the Bucks.
LaRavia had attempted a one-handed slam after receiving Reaves' lob pass, but the ball bounced off the rim, resulting in a missed opportunity. Teammates were quick to comment on the post, with Austin Reaves writing: "No more lobs.."
Rookie Adou Thiero, who recently signed a three-year contract worth $5.9 million via the draft, added the comment that caught everyone's attention: "Make your dunks bum" - putting a playful spotlight on his teammate's missed opportunity.
Thiero's Memorable NBA Debut
While Thiero was joking about LaRavia's missed dunk, the rookie made sure to capitalize on his own opportunities. On November 16, 2025, Adou Thiero made his official NBA debut for the Los Angeles Lakers in Milwaukee after missing months due to a knee injury.
The young player impressed during his debut, making his first basket on a dunk in addition to scoring his first point at the free throw line. Following a bounce pass from Bronny James, Thiero delivered a thundering slam in transition that electrified both fans and teammates.
Thiero shared his excitement about the moment: "I heard them... Whenever I dunked the ball, I could hear them. That was pretty hype. But coming down seeing everyone flexing all over the bench, it's just a good feeling for everybody to be happy for me."
Game Ball Controversy and Aftermath
The Lakers attempted to secure the game ball for Thiero following his debut performance, but encountered an unexpected obstacle. After the final buzzer, the team went to retrieve the ball from the official to present it to Thiero in the locker room, but the referee refused to let the Lakers grab the ball for unspecified reasons.
Despite this, Giannis Antetokounmpo secured the game ball for Thiero following his first points, ensuring the rookie had a memorable souvenir from his debut game.
The social media banter between Thiero and LaRavia highlights the team's chemistry, with LaRavia responding to Thiero's comment by instructing the rookie to give him some of his bounce, while dismissing Reaves' remark with a laugh.
Unfortunately for LaRavia, the missed dunk was part of a challenging shooting night where he went 1 of 10 from the field, and the failed conversion also prevented Austin Reaves from recording his ninth assist of the game.
