Yaxel Lendeborg is wasting no time making his mark in Golden State.
The Warriors rookie turned in the kind of performance that instantly grabs attention on Sunday, pouring in 37 points in a win over the Los Angeles Clippers while stepping into a much bigger role with Stephen Curry out. For a team leaning on its veteran core, Lendeborg gave Golden State a burst of young scoring that felt impossible to ignore.
His line was as efficient as it was loud: 34 minutes, 13-of-19 shooting, 6-of-11 from deep and 5-of-6 at the line. He also added four rebounds and six assists, filling the box score while carrying the offense when the Warriors needed someone to take command.
The scoring outburst carried real historical weight, too. Lendeborg’s 37 points are the most by a Warriors rookie since Curry in the 2009-10 season. Curry topped that number only once as a rookie, finishing with 42 points in Golden State’s final game of that year.
Lendeborg’s early run has already made him one of the most important pieces on the roster, and the Warriors are feeling it. With Curry resting Sunday, Golden State still had a player capable of taking over the game, and Lendeborg delivered exactly that.
Afterward, Steve Kerr made it clear he sees plenty more coming.
"He's playing this way and he really doesn’t know the NBA game yet," Kerr said. "He's going to get a lot better."
That’s a dangerous thought for the rest of the league, especially with Jimmy Butler still recovering from a torn ACL. Right now, Lendeborg has carved out a place as the No. 2 option when Curry is on the floor. And when Butler returns, his emergence could help keep both stars fresher for the playoffs.
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Clippers Get A Huge Opening Against A Shorthanded Warriors Team
The Clippers are set to catch a break against Golden State, with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green expected to sit out the matchup as the Warriors continue to manage their veterans carefully. Steve Kerr confirmed the plan after consulting with the teams medical staff and the players, keeping the approach centered on rest and recovery rather than pushing either star into another game too soon.
It leaves Los Angeles facing a version of the Warriors that will look different in a meaningful way, even if Golden State still insists on staying competitive through the wear and tear of the season. Curry also addressed Jimmy Butlers ongoing recovery from an ACL injury, a reminder that the Warriors bigger challenge remains balancing health with the need to keep pace while key pieces come and go. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Defensive Problems Exposed Again By Warriors Breakout Night
The Clippers ran into another rough defensive night as Golden State kept rolling, extending its winning streak with a 124-112 result that never really let Los Angeles settle in. The Warriors got a breakout performance from rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who was everywhere offensively and set the tone for a group effort that kept the Clippers chasing for much of the night.
DeAnthony Melton and Brandin Podziemski each played important supporting roles, while Charles Bassey, Brandon Williams and Al Horford all chipped in to keep the pressure on. For the Clippers, the bigger concern is less the final margin than the pattern it reflects, with too many opponents finding ways to create clean looks and control stretches of the game against them. [Read more 🡒]
Derrick Jones Jr. Is Making The Clippers Look Smarter By The Game
Derrick Jones Jr. has given the Clippers exactly the kind of early return teams hope for when they lock in a role player on a three-year deal. Signed in 2024, he has settled into the rotation as a two-way piece who brings energy, length and a little more scoring punch than expected, giving Los Angeles a useful jolt on both ends through the opening stretch of the season.
What has stood out most is how cleanly his game is fitting into what the Clippers need around their main options. Jones has been efficient from the floor, active on the glass and disruptive defensively, which is the kind of profile that can quietly change the shape of a game. The bigger question now is how far that impact can go when the matchups get even tougher. [Read more 🡒]