​The Los Angeles Lakers began their 2026 NBA Summer League with a stylish win Friday, taking down the Oklahoma City Thunder 96-84. Much of the spotlight remained on recent draftees Cameron Carr and Adou Thiero, who continued the positive momentum they showed during the California Classic. Both players put injury concerns firmly behind them after Thiero had missed the California Classic finale against San Antonio due to a wrist issue, and Carr sat out the second half of that game because of an infected toe.
Carr delivered another well-rounded performance, finishing with 18 points, two rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks, once again highlighting the two-way potential that made him a first-round pick. He shot 7-for-13 from the floor but converted just one of his five attempts from beyond the arc. After opening the California Classic by hitting nine of his first 20 three-point attempts, Carr cooled a bit, going 1-for-7 in his last game and a half. Nevertheless, his steady presence on both ends of the court kept him as a constant factor for Los Angeles, and his 6-foot-5 frame allowed him to impact the game as a versatile guard.
Thiero, on the other hand, captured the majority of the action and stole the show as the Lakers built a lead that swelled to 20 points. The second-year winger delivered his best summer performance to date, scoring 20 points and ripping off four of his characteristic high-flying dunks, including a dramatic breakaway windmill slam in the second quarter. He shot an efficient 8-for-14 from the floor but went without a triple, missing all five of his three-point try attempts. Across three Summer League games, Thiero remains in search of his first made three-pointer, failing to connect on his first eight attempts from deep.
That miss did little to dull an otherwise outstanding two-way display. In 30 minutes, Thiero filled the stat sheet with four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks, while also posting a team-best plus-13 and turning the ball over just once. His strong start to Summer League comes on the heels of an injury-impacted first pro season. The 22-year-old sat out the entire 2025 Summer League after suffering a knee injury at Arkansas, which ultimately required surgery and delayed the start of his rookie campaign.
Additional setbacks, including an MCL sprain, further hindered his ability to build momentum in his first NBA season, limiting his opportunities to win a consistent role with the Lakers. Instead, much of his development occurred with the South Bay Lakers, where he steadily gained confidence and expanded his game. “I feel like I was capable of doing this,” Thiero said after the Thunder game. “It’s not different from things I was doing in the G League last year.” He added that he had become comfortable in the G League, understanding how to play and perform at a higher level, which has helped his progression with the Lakers.