Yaxel Lendeborg turned 24 today, making the Golden State Warriors rookie officially older than every other player previously celebrated in these birthday letters. Get this: he’s even six days older than Jonathan Kuminga, who doesn’t hit 24 until October 6th.
The ‘Old Man’ Rookie Is Different
Yeah, the age thing is wild, right? When Kuminga was drafted seventh overall in 2021, he was just 18 years old. Podziemski, picked 19th in 2023, was 20. But Yaxel? He came in at No. 11 this June as the oldest first-rounder in the entire draft, at least three full years older than every single one of the ten guys picked ahead of him. The internet loves to treat older draft picks like a carton of milk past its sell-by date. I get that instinct, too. Steph Curry was already in his fourth season, dropping 54 points on the Knicks, by the time he hit 24.
But that kind of thinking totally misses the point with Yaxel. The dude spent those years most lottery picks are in endless AAU gyms doing something completely different. He played just 11 varsity high school games. Eleven! Then he went on to become a national champion at Michigan, snagging Big Ten Player of the Year honors while averaging 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds, plus hitting 37.2 percent from deep. This isn’t some fresh-faced kid; this is a tested player.
MVP Energy And A Role Built For Kerr’s System
So what exactly did Mike Dunleavy get with the 11th pick? He landed a 6-foot-9 forward who just connects everything on the court, and Vegas already saw it. Yax walked out of Summer League with the MVP trophy in hand, averaging 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. He then dropped 21 points and 10 rebounds to beat Memphis in the title game. And the best part? He still graded himself a C-plus or B-minus, saying he needed to be more aggressive and get in better shape. That’s real humility right there.
It’s why the fit just makes so much sense. Steve Kerr is rolling out a 5-Out offense at camp, and a 6-9 forward who can space the floor and make that extra pass is exactly the kind of piece that system devours. Mark T. Willard even said this guy could be “the next face of the Warriors after Steph Curry,” pointing to his personality and confidence. The Warriors have spent a decade wrestling with the question of “who decides when it’s taking too long” for a player to develop. With Yaxel, they’re banking on a different kind of timeline altogether.
This isn’t just another rookie; this is a guy who’s seen a bit more life, grinded through a different path, and is now walking into a system that could genuinely unlock his game. The Warriors are banking on him to be more than just a piece, they’re banking on a future. And honestly? Watching Yaxel Lendeborg try to be that guy is going to be must-see TV.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Golden State of Mind.
Leave a Reply