Yaxel Lendeborg and Cam Boozer came into the league with plenty of history between them, and the race between the former college rivals is already picking up steam after just one week in the NBA.
Through the first 10 days of the season, Lendeborg and Boozer have stood out as the class of the rookie crop, and the early Rookie of the Year conversation has already started to tilt toward those two. NBA.com's Rookie of the Year ladder placed Boozer ahead of Lendeborg after the opening week, pointing to his role in Memphis’ unexpected 4-0 start.
That case only got stronger on Thursday night. The Grizzlies moved to 5-0 with a 124-103 win over the Trail Blazers in Portland, and Boozer - the third overall pick - put together his first career triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists.
Still, there are plenty of people, including Warriors fans and maybe Lendeborg himself, who won’t love seeing him listed behind Boozer. The 11th overall pick has been sensational in his first five games, averaging 22.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists while shooting 47.5% from the field and 35.5% from deep.
He’s also been even better lately. Lendeborg has averaged 28.5 points over his last two games and helped Golden State bounce back from an 0-3 start with road wins in Denver and Minnesota.
That slow start may be the reason Boozer has the edge for now. With both rookies producing at a high level, the fight for the award could come down to team success as much as individual numbers.
Lendeborg should have every chance to stay in the mix. He has quickly become Golden State’s second-most important player, and through five games he has already played 57 more minutes than any other Warrior. Even when Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody return from injury, his role is expected to remain a major one.
The challenge for Lendeborg is clear: keep this pace going all season and help the Warriors push toward a playoff spot. And he’s not the only newcomer with a path into the award race. Number one overall pick AJ Dybansta missed the first week but has now returned for the Washington Wizards, and he’ll be making his case over the coming months as well.
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Draymond Green Just Changed What Warriors Should Want At Center
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That kind of performance changes the conversation around what Golden State should be chasing next. The Warriors are still exploring trade possibilities, including Kristaps Porzingis, but the bigger question may be whether they want a center who brings more upside and trust than the current bench options. Yves Missi of the New Orleans Pelicans has emerged as a reported target, and the appeal is obvious: if Green can keep covering for the present, the Warriors can afford to be more selective about the future. [Read more 🡒]