Yaxel Lendeborg may already be playing his way into a spot the Warriors didn’t expect to have settled this soon.
After the 11th overall pick helped Golden State win the Summer League championship and took home tournament MVP honors, Steve Kerr is floating the possibility that Lendeborg could open the season in the starting lineup when the Warriors visit the Los Angeles Lakers on opening night at Crypto.com Arena next month.
Golden State has a clear opening on the wing while six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler remains sidelined by injury, and Kerr made it sound like the decision is still very much in motion. Gui Santos filled that role down the stretch last season and was the most encouraging part of an otherwise flat finish, but Lendeborg has now entered the conversation as a serious contender in a frontcourt that also includes Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzingis.
“The biggest things are figuring out who's going to start, and what's the rotation going to look like? Can Yaxel play the three with Draymond at the four, with Kristaps or Al at the 5?
What would that look like? We’ll have a lot of time to determine that," Kerr told Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area.
That quote tells the story: this is not just about filling a temporary hole. The Warriors are weighing how Lendeborg fits alongside their veterans, and the matchup with Santos is shaping up as one of the key training camp and preseason battles.
Lendeborg’s summer made the case loud and clear. He was excellent throughout the tournament, and the skill package he flashed suggests he can handle real minutes on the wing despite being listed at 6’9” and 250lbs.
The shot was the eye-catcher early, as he knocked down 45.9% of his 3-pointers across eight games. Just as important, he showed he can move the ball and create for others, averaging four assists in 26.9 minutes.
For a Warriors team that missed multiple free agency targets, including superstar forward LeBron James, Lendeborg arrives as the most significant addition after an offseason that didn’t bring the splash they wanted. Golden State finished 10th in the Western Conference last season and is trying to get back to the playoffs.
That puts real pressure on the rookie. By opening night, he’ll be 24, and the expectation is no longer just that he helps. The Warriors may need him to matter quickly, maybe even to become one of their better players, if they want to avoid a third playoff absence in the last four years.
Kerr’s comments suggest the team understands that. And if the summer was any indication, Golden State may be ready to hand Lendeborg a chance to prove he can thrive right away.
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