Yaxel Lendeborg has barely arrived in Golden State and he is already giving Warriors fans something they can latch onto.
The rookie turned in another strong outing in the Warriors’ 119-114 win, finishing with 26 points after a night in which Stephen Curry put on the kind of show only he can deliver. Curry exploded for 44 points, his highest total of the season, and pushed his average to 28.8 points per game. At 36, he still looked every bit like the engine of the offense.
Lendeborg’s own start has been impossible to ignore. After leading the Warriors with 31 points in the win over the Denver Nuggets, he backed it up with another major scoring night. Through these first flashes, he is averaging 22.6 points per game, production that would keep him in the Rookie of the Year mix if it continues.
After the game, the Summer League MVP spoke to the SF Standard and made it clear he was as struck by Curry’s performance as everybody else. He said: “I caught myself shaking my head, like, wow, a couple times…Once he got out of the game, it’s like this is my opportunity to help him out, help [make] his greatness worthwhile.”
That landed with Warriors fans in a big way. With Golden State facing former first round pick Jonathan Kuminga, who never locked down a permanent role with the team, Lendeborg’s words struck a nerve for supporters who want to see someone in the young core fully understand what Curry still means to the franchise.
One fan wrote: “We finally got our young guy but damn it took until Steph was 38 for this smh I wish they drafted better.”
Another added: “We really drafted a rook who cares about Steph’s remaining years and wants to make his job easier for him.”
“Yax cares more than the front office I’m crying,” added another.
A fourth fan added: “Best part is about this quote is that he’s not saying this to please the fans He likely genuinely means this.”
And another posted: “Finally somebody (besides Jimmy) who cares about Steph’s legacy.”
The Warriors have now won two straight and climbed back to 2-3 after their rough opening stretch. Jimmy Butler is expected back in early 2027, and the idea of pairing him with Curry and Lendeborg is already enough to get people imagining what that group could look like in full gear.
In Other News...
Steph Curry Weighed In On A Valkyries Rival Crossing The Line
Stephen Curry had plenty to say after Golden States win over the Timberwolves, and some of it reached well beyond his own box score. In his postgame press conference, Curry praised the Minnesota Lynx and took a moment to salute WNBA players such as Kayla McBride and Olivia Miles, a reminder that his attention stays fixed on the womens game even when he is fresh off an NBA game of his own.
Curry also addressed McBrides use of his signature Night Night celebration in a previous game against the Golden State Valkyries, adding another layer to a running crossover between the two leagues. McBrides big night, along with the ongoing 2026 WNBA Finals matchup between the Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream, has kept the spotlight on how much these moments resonate across basketball, even when the particulars still leave plenty of room for the next chapter. [Read more 🡒]
Brandin Podziemski Just Gave Warriors Fans A Reason To Watch Closer
Brandin Podziemski is already giving the Warriors something to watch closely after a quiet start to the season. In Golden States 119-114 win over the Timberwolves, the second-year guard chipped in eight points, six assists and five rebounds, a useful all-around line for a player still getting his footing after missing the opener with a back injury.
The more interesting part may be where Podziemski is trying to take his game next. He said he spent the offseason studying Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunsons tape, with an emphasis on creating more threes and getting to the free-throw line, which is a promising sign for a Warriors team that could use another guard who can help organize the offense and pressure defenses in a different way. If this early glimpse is any indication, Podziemskis development is going to be worth tracking. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Kerr's Kuminga Comments Reopen A Warriors Split That Still Stings
Jonathan Kumingas return to the spotlight against his old team served as another reminder of how much the Warriors once invested in him, even if that chapter ended with a trade to Atlanta before he eventually landed in Minnesota. Kuminga looked comfortable in the matchup and turned in a solid performance, while Golden State watched a former young cornerstone now trying to carve out his next chapter elsewhere. For a franchise that spent years trying to mold his game, seeing him on the opposite sideline still carries a little extra weight.
Steve Kerr only added to that feeling with his recent comments, which came across as both appreciative and a little wistful. The Warriors coach spoke positively about Kumingas development and the situation hes in with the Timberwolves, a reminder that the organization still sees the talent that once made him such an important piece of its future. Even with the roster move long in the rearview, the split continues to linger because it speaks to a broader question Golden State never fully answered with one of its most intriguing young players. [Read more 🡒]