Mychal Thompson sees a whole lot more than promise when he looks at Yaxel Lendeborg. The former Lakers big man, who won two championships in Los Angeles, went on 95.7 The Game’s Willard and Dibs and made it clear he thinks the Warriors have something special on their hands.
“He’s the real deal. The Warriors have found a new face of the franchise.
When Steph and Draymond and everybody leave, he’s gonna be the main guy. He’s going to be an All-Star player for the Warriors.
He’s got all of the talent. And he’s got the confidence, obviously,” Thompson said.
Thompson wasn’t done there. He pointed to the rookie’s size, mobility, and two-way versatility as the traits that jump off the screen, saying Lendeborg can do plenty of different jobs on the floor.
“And as big as he is, he’s out there guarding guards. Look at how agile and athletic he is.
He can finish at the rim; he can shoot; he’s a complete player. And the fact that he lasted till the 11th pick speaks to some horrible scouting by the draft people,” he further added.
When the conversation turned to comparisons, Thompson reached for some big names. In his view, Lendeborg fits into the same broad class of versatile forwards as Scottie Pippen, Xavier McDaniel, LeBron James, and Draymond Green.
“[Lendeborg] is a combination of Scottie Pippen and Xavier McDaniel, those types of forwards. He’s very versatile to play and doesn’t really have a set position. A basketball player is what he is, who can play as a forward, guard, center, whatever,” Thompson said.
“He’s like another version of Draymond with more offensive skills. He’s just a basketball player; put him anywhere on the floor, and he could guard Luka tonight or even Walker Kessler. He’s just a basketball player, a lot like LeBron is,” he concluded.
The numbers from Lendeborg’s first five games back up the excitement. He’s averaging 22.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while shooting 47.5% from the field and 35.5% from beyond the arc.
With the Warriors having pursued LeBron James in free agency, it’s easy to see why fans would lean into the idea that they may have landed a player with a similar feel. And if Lendeborg ends up carrying the franchise to multiple titles, he could become the kind of foundational piece Scottie Pippen was for the Bulls.
For now, the next test comes tonight, when Yaxel Lendeborg and the Warriors face the Lakers. As he gets ready to match up with Luka Doncic at Chase Center, the spotlight will be on whether the rookie can keep matching the buzz around him.
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Draymond Green Just Changed What Warriors Should Want At Center
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That kind of performance changes the conversation around what Golden State should be chasing next. The Warriors are still exploring trade possibilities, including Kristaps Porzingis, but the bigger question may be whether they want a center who brings more upside and trust than the current bench options. Yves Missi of the New Orleans Pelicans has emerged as a reported target, and the appeal is obvious: if Green can keep covering for the present, the Warriors can afford to be more selective about the future. [Read more 🡒]