Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is impressing in preseason games, contributing 17 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and one block against the Lakers in an exhibition match. At 24 years old, he's showing maturity beyond his draft status, even commenting that NBA players seem "lazy" compared to college competition regarding rebounding efforts. This performance is particularly significant for a team with aging stars like Steph Curry and Draymond Green, needing immediate impact contributions from young talent.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Yaxel Lendeborg, a Warriors rookie drafted with the 11th pick in June's NBA Draft, is making waves early on. He led the team to a summer league title in Las Vegas, including a championship game against the Grizzlies where he scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. In his second preseason game against the Lakers, Lendeborg had another strong performance with 17 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and one blocked shot.
Despite the Warriors' lack of significant offseason moves and their absence from championship contention expectations for this season, they are optimistic about Lendeborg's contributions. Standing at 6-foot-9, he is proving to be a crafty scorer, skilled playmaker, and strong rebounder, which addresses some of the team’s needs with key players out. Interestingly, Lendeborg noted that NBA players often seem less aggressive on rebounds compared to his college experience, suggesting he may become an effective rebounder in the league.
Written for “NBA Rookie Critiques Veterans” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
It was a tough offseason for the Warriors, who didn’t make any big moves and will enter this season without championship-contending expectations.
asserted
who → make → expectations
Yaxel Lendeborg is proving to be everything the Warriors hoped for when they selected him with the 11th overall pick in June’s NBA Draft.
asserted
they → prove → Draft
The 6-foot-9 forward is a crafty scorer, skilled playmaker and strong rebounder, all things the Warriors need with Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody and Kristaps Porzingis out.
asserted
Warriors → need → Butler
In the Warriors’ exhibition game against the Lakers on Tuesday, Lendeborg finished with 17 points, nine rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot.
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Lendeborg → finish → points
“I think it’s a lot easier to get rebounds here,” Lendeborg said.
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Lendeborg → think → rebounds
“In college, the paint was always packed and there’s always somebody coming out of nowhere to rebound.
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paint → pack → college
“These guys, I feel they’re more lazy to get the rebounds.
asserted
they → feel → rebounds
I’m having clear-shot rebounds by myself.
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I → have → myself
It’s crazy.
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It → ’ → ?
I feel like I’ll have a lot of rebounding games where I’ll have like, nine to 12, something like that.”
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I → feel → that
That’s an exciting prospect for the Warriors, considering most incoming NBA players feel out of sorts while adjusting to a sped-up game with bigger and stronger competitors.
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players → ’ → competitors
Lendeborg appears to be having the opposite reaction.
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Lendeborg → appear → reaction
For him, this is easier than anticipated.
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this → anticipate → him
The Warriors selected Lendeborg because they were hoping he was NBA ready.
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he → select → Lendeborg
He’s 24 years old, which is typically a demerit on draft boards for teams coveting young talent who they can develop.
asserted
they → ’ → who
But for the Warriors, who have aging stars, including the 38-year-old Steph Curry, 36-year-old Draymond Green and 37-year-old Butler, acquiring a player who could make an immediate contribution was the team’s priority.
uncertain
who → have → contribution
For those guys, the window to compete is now.
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window → compete → guys
And it’s closing.
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it → close → ?
The franchise needs to do everything possible to prop it open a bit longer.
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franchise → need → it
Lendeborg appears poised to enter the lineup and make a difference.
asserted
Lendeborg → poise → difference
Against the Lakers, he scored all 17 of his points in the first half on 7-for-11 shooting, including going 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.
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he → score → arc
Of course, all of this has to be taken with a grain of salt.
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all → have → salt
But still, Lendeborg has turned heads ever since the Warriors drafted him.
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Warriors → turn → him
He went from carrying Michigan to a national championship to leading the Warriors’ summer league team to a title in Las Vegas, including finishing with 21 points, 10 rebounds and two steals in the championship game against the Grizzlies.
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He → go → Grizzlies
Lendeborg appears to be the real deal.
asserted
Lendeborg → appear → ?
He’s unafraid.
asserted
He → ’ → ?
He’s ready.
asserted
He → ’ → ?
When it comes to the Warriors, who won four championships in eight years from 2015-2022 before failing to get past the second round of the playoffs the last four years, that’s some much-needed great news.
asserted
that → come → playoffs
In what was otherwise a very uneventful offseason, Lendeborg is proving to be a beacon of hope for the league’s modern day dynasty that’s trying to swim upstream once again.
asserted
that → prove → dynasty
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