Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr gave rookie Yaxel Lendeborg the highest praise imaginable, flat-out stating the forward is “one of our best players already” and will be “going to play a ton” in his first NBA season. This isn’t just coach-speak, either. Kerr told ESPN’s Anthony Slater that Lendeborg “deserves it,” signaling immense confidence in the No. 11 pick from the 2026 draft even before the regular season tips off.
Rookie Flashes, Coach Raves: What’s The Deal?
Lendeborg isn’t just getting lip service, he’s backing it up on the court. He recently dropped 17 points, snagged nine rebounds, and dished out two assists while starting for the Warriors in a preseason blowout against the Los Angeles Lakers. That kind of immediate impact has him spending time in a potential starting five alongside legit stars like Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Draymond Green, and Al Horford. When Bonta Hill and Dalton Johnson from NBC Sports’ Dubs Talk Podcast asked Kerr if Lendeborg was the “most pro-ready rookie” he’d ever had as Warriors coach, Kerr didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, 100 percent,” he said. “He’s the most prepared, most ready guy.” Kerr also gave a shout-out to Dusty May, who coached Lendeborg “really well last year.” You don’t hear that kind of immediate, unqualified praise for rookies every day, especially not from a coach with Kerr’s track record. It means the kid is special.
From JUCO “Chip” To NBA Threat: The Road Ahead
Lendeborg’s journey is something else. He started his college career at Arizona Western College as an unranked JUCO prospect, then transferred to UAB before landing at Michigan. There, he averaged 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds during the Wolverines’ incredible run to a national title. Kerr is banking on that “chip” on Lendeborg’s shoulder from his JUCO days to fuel his development. But even with all the hype, there are still areas for growth. Kerr wants Lendeborg to focus on improving his “defensive awareness” heading into his first NBA campaign. He also wants the rookie to be more aggressive on offense, a point Draymond Green echoed on his Oct. 4 podcast. Green noted that players like Lendeborg and Jimmy Butler “see the floor so well that when you want them to have tunnel vision and go score,” they sometimes lean too heavily on passing instead. If Lendeborg can harness that scoring aggression while maintaining his court vision, watch out.
This kid is locked and loaded. Lendeborg’s first regular season game is set for October 21, right there on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers. All eyes will be on him to see if he lives up to Kerr’s incredibly high expectations and immediately proves he’s one of their best players.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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