Yaxel Lendeborg didn’t exactly tiptoe into his first taste of NBA life with the Golden State Warriors. After his second preseason game, the rookie said rebounding is easier in the league because of the spacing - and, in his words, because players are more lazy. That’s the kind of statement that hangs around.
Now it gets a real test, and quickly.
The Warriors are expected to be without Kristaps Porzingis for opening night against the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints on Thursday. Porzingis has continued dealing with another illness through the preseason, and the issue could now stretch into November.
That leaves Golden State without its 7-foot-3 presence in the middle and likely pushes the team toward a smaller look, just as it did against the Lakers on Tuesday night. In that game, Gui Santos, Lendeborg and Draymond Green formed a three-forward frontcourt.
Lendeborg made his case on the glass in that matchup, finishing with nine rebounds in limited minutes. He also pulled down nine boards in his preseason debut against the Los Angeles Clippers two days earlier. The 24-year-old has the size and the instincts to keep making an impact there, and the path is there for more rebounding chances if he sees small-ball minutes with Porzingis out.
Porzingis may not be known as an elite rebounder, but his size alone makes a difference near the rim. Even without stuffing the stat sheet, he can still soak up seven or eight rebounds that Golden State will now need to replace, likely with Lendeborg playing a bigger role.
There’s another wrinkle, though. Lendeborg’s easy night against the Lakers came with Los Angeles missing Walker Kessler, their major offseason addition.
That picture changes once Kessler, at 7-foot-2, is back in the middle. And with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves returning as shot-makers, the rebounding chances figures to get tighter as well.
So yes, Lendeborg has looked comfortable early. But the real question is whether that confidence travels when the boards get crowded and the size at the rim shows up. For now, he’s said enough to make the spotlight brighter - and he’s got a chance to prove he meant it.
In Other News...
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The details matter here because the Warriors did more than simply reward Podziemski. The structure of the deal was built to preserve some financial room as they keep sorting through future roster plans, leaving the door open for bigger moves rather than shutting it. That balance, between keeping a homegrown guard and maintaining flexibility, may end up being the most important part of the story. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Simmons Gets An Early Shot To Haunt The Warriors
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For Golden State, the matchup adds another layer to a game already being watched closely because Simmons has not appeared in an NBA game since the 2024-25 season. There is intrigue both in how the Kings plan to use him positionally and in how the Warriors will look back on their decision to pass, especially with a player of Simmons' profile now returning to action in a uniform that is not theirs. [Read more 🡒]
Stephen Curry Just Put Pressure On The Warriors Front Office
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Currys comments about the state of the roster landed with extra weight because he is no longer speaking like a star simply enjoying the ride. By signing on again, he effectively doubled down on Golden States direction, but his remarks also underscored the pressure on the front office to keep pace with the realities of an aging core and a thin margin for error. However the season starts, the Warriors are carrying more than familiar championship expectations now, and Curry made sure that point is hard to miss. [Read more 🡒]