Joe Lacob is liking what he’s seeing from Yaxel Lendeborg, and the Warriors owner didn’t hold back about how strongly he felt about the rookie from the start.
Speaking Monday on 95.7 The Game, Lacob said the organization believed it had landed the right player when it took Lendeborg, and he was blunt about the result so far: "The draft is hard. ... Some teams never get it right, and we got this one right," Lacob told 95.7 The Game on Monday. "I was 100% sold that this was the guy we wanted in the draft."
Lacob also acknowledged that his track record in previous drafts has included misses, saying he deserves criticism for those decisions. Golden State’s use of lottery picks on James Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga stood out as the examples, with neither player working out for the Warriors and both now playing elsewhere this season.
Even with Lacob’s confidence in Lendeborg, there was still no certainty the forward would be there when Golden State picked at No. 11. Lacob said he felt the Warriors had a real shot because NBA decision-makers often get drawn to upside, especially with younger prospects.
"NBA GMs just love their 18- and 19-year-olds," Lacob said. "We’ve all been guilty. ...
There’s great upside with some of these guys. But this guy seemed like a champion, ready to play.
"The amazing thing is: Everything we thought he could be, he’s come in and kind of exceeded that. ... He’s surprised (head coach) Steve (Kerr) for sure. He doesn’t have any weaknesses."
Lendeborg, who is 24, has opened his NBA career with a strong stretch, averaging 21.5 points, seven rebounds, and 3.9 assists across his first eight games. The 6-foot-9 forward has also given Golden State important frontcourt help with Jimmy Butler sidelined and Kristaps Porzingis reportedly pondering retirement.
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