Yaxel Lendeborg Breaks Out With 17 Points as Warriors Rookie Makes His Case

Yaxel Lendeborg gave the Golden State Warriors another reason to believe their rookie can contribute immediately. Starting at center Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers, Lendeborg scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds while shooting 7-of-11 from the field in Golden State’s 124-98 preseason victory at Chase Center.

The performance was especially encouraging because Lendeborg wasn’t simply hunting shots. He played within Golden State’s offense, finished efficiently and supplied the rebounding and versatility that could make him useful in several lineup combinations. The Warriors raced to 81 first-half points, and Lendeborg had 15 of his 17 before halftime. With veteran Al Horford scratched before tipoff, the rookie was pushed into a different role and responded without looking overwhelmed.

That’s the larger story for Golden State. The Warriors don’t necessarily need Lendeborg to become a high-volume scorer alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. They need a young player capable of defending, rebounding, making quick decisions and punishing defenses when opportunities appear. Tuesday’s performance showed that his mature, versatile game may translate sooner than a typical rookie’s. Preseason numbers deserve caution, but if Lendeborg continues producing efficiently while handling multiple frontcourt responsibilities, Steve Kerr may have a difficult time keeping him out of the regular-season rotation.