Warriors Rookie Faces An Early Test Fans Wont Ignore

As the Golden State Warriors face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Summer League, fans will get an exciting glimpse into the emerging talent of first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg and his fellow starters.

The Warriors are rolling out a familiar summer league look for Sunday’s 3 p.m. PT matchup with the Thunder, and the headliner is first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg.

Golden State’s starting five also includes LJ Cryer, Will Richard, Malevy Leons and Graham Ike.

The Dubs enter the game at 1-0 in Las Vegas, while Oklahoma City is 0-1. The Thunder’s group features No. 12 pick Aday Mara, a player who was frequently projected to Golden State before the Warriors used the 11th pick on Lendeborg instead.

Lendeborg made a strong first impression in Las Vegas, putting up 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in his opening summer league game. Mara, by contrast, managed just two points, seven rebounds and one assist. Sunday gives Mara a chance to respond, and it also sets up an interesting look at him against his former Michigan teammate.

Ike is another name to watch in this one. He’s viewed as a real candidate for a two-way deal with the Warriors, and a solid showing against the Thunder’s 7'3" center would only help his case.

Cryer has already been even more eye-catching. He scored 25 points on 5-of-8 shooting from deep, adding six rebounds and four assists in Golden State’s first game in Las Vegas. He already has a two-way contract, but if he keeps producing at that level, the Warriors may have to think hard about a standard deal.

Golden State does have four standard roster spots open, though one is spoken for by Draymond Green. The other three remain unsettled, and Cryer is the summer league player with the clearest path to one of them.

Will Richard already has a standard contract.

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