The Warriors got an uneasy moment Tuesday night, then a sigh of relief.
Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg rolled his left ankle driving to the basket in Golden State’s preseason game against the Lakers at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He stayed in just long enough to get to the line for his two free throws, then was checked on before heading into the tunnel for further evaluation.
For a stretch, it looked like the Warriors might be dealing with more than a brief scare. Lendeborg was visibly bothered, and there was immediate concern that the 23-year-old might be done for the night. Instead, he returned shortly after and checked back into the game.
Once he was back, he looked fine. Lendeborg finished with 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including 6-of-9 from the free-throw line, along with five rebounds, four assists and two steals in 26 minutes.
That was a huge relief for Golden State, which selected Lendeborg with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. His résumé already carries plenty of weight: two-time AAC Defensive Player of the Year at UAB, then Big Ten Player of the Year and consensus first-team All-American at Michigan after helping the Wolverines win the national championship.
He has carried that momentum right into the preseason. In his home debut against the Lakers on Oct. 6, Lendeborg put up 17 points and nine rebounds while going 7-of-11 from the field in a 124-98 win at Chase Center.
Tuesday’s rematch came with both teams missing pieces. The Lakers sat Luka Doncic and were also without Collin Sexton, Ziaire Williams, Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr, while Walker Kessler returned for his preseason debut after missing time with a finger injury. Golden State played without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody.
Even with the injury scare, Lendeborg’s importance is already obvious. His versatility has given the Warriors more lineup possibilities, and seeing him pop back up after the ankle turn was exactly what Golden State needed to see.
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Warriors Suddenly Have A Yaxel Lendeborg Concern Fans Can't Ignore
The Warriors got a scare in their preseason win over the Lakers when Yaxel Lendeborg turned his ankle, a moment that briefly put a spotlight on one of the more intriguing parts of their early lineup plans. He did return to the game for a short stretch, and afterward he downplayed the issue, calling it not severe and sounding upbeat about where he stands heading into the next stage of camp.
Still, it is the kind of injury moment Golden State cannot afford to brush aside, especially with the team weighing whether Lendeborg could start and trying to manage other banged-up players as the regular season approaches. Preseason results matter less than availability this time of year, and the Warriors will be watching closely to see whether the ankle shows any lingering effect as they keep sorting out the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Just Made A Tough Roster Call Fans Will Debate
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Burton arrives with some recent NBA experience after previously spending time with the Memphis Grizzlies on 10-day contracts, and hell get a chance to compete for a place with the Warriors in mid-October. For a team still shaping its final group, the move is another reminder that preseason production does not always guarantee a lasting seat at the table. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Just Created An Early Center Battle Fans Did Not Expect
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Bassey signed a partially guaranteed one-year deal, so nothing about his roster spot or role is locked in yet, but his defensive value matters more now with Kristaps Porzingis unavailable indefinitely. For a team still sorting out its frontcourt rotation, the early signs suggest this center competition may be more open than expected, and Bassey has done enough to make the Warriors keep looking his way. [Read more 🡒]