Golden State rookie Yaxel Lendeborg already has a little extra edge heading into his first NBA season, and ESPN just handed him another reason to keep that fire burning.
The network’s latest Rookie of the Year prediction has third overall pick Cam Boozer as the favorite in a class loaded with first-year talent. Lendeborg, meanwhile, didn’t make the top five at all, even though ESPN’s poll of reporters, editors and analysts included Boozer, Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybansta, Caleb Wilson and Darius Acuff Jr. ahead of him.
That omission is the kind of thing a rookie can file away in a hurry. Lendeborg was taken 11th overall by the Warriors in June, and there’s a real case that he should be right in the mix after leading Golden State to the Summer League championship, winning MVP, and entering opening night at 24 years old. He could also be in line for a starting role from day one.
Boozer’s placement at the top of the prediction list is easy enough to understand. ESPN pointed to a player who is expected to walk into a major role with a young rebuilding Grizzlies team. But for Lendeborg, the bigger irritation may be being left out entirely.
This is not a rivalry that needs time to develop. It already has one. Lendeborg and Boozer met in last month’s Summer League title game, and Lendeborg’s Warriors came away with a 94-90 win after erasing a 12-point deficit.
Lendeborg put up 21 points and 10 rebounds, with nine of those boards coming in the fourth quarter. Boozer finished with 19 points and eight rebounds, but managed only two points on 1-for-5 shooting in the final period.
Afterward, Lendeborg made it clear the matchup stays with him. He said he thinks about revenge every time the two forwards face each other, and he also claimed that Boozer gets saved by the referees when they battle.
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