The Golden State Warriors are still hunting for their first win, falling to 0-3 after a 131-122 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night. But don’t let that final score fool you. This was easily the most impressive game of the young season for Golden State, especially since they were missing huge pieces like Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Brandin Podziemski, and Al Horford. Keeping it close without that much firepower? That tells a story.
Yaxel Lendeborg: Rookie Sensation
You want to talk about stepping up? Yaxel Lendeborg just exploded. In only his third career game, the rookie put up an insane 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. He wasn’t just scoring either. He added a block, shot a super-efficient 9-for-19 from the field, and absolutely drained it from deep, going 6-for-11 on threes. His true-shooting percentage was a massive 64.0%, way above the league average of 58.1%. With Curry and Podziemski out, Lendeborg became the team’s primary offensive option, and he absolutely owned that role. He showed patience, aggression, and didn’t let the heavier offensive workload slow him down on defense or the glass. Seriously, after just three games, we can pretty much say this guy is really good. The big question, considering he’s already 24, is how much better can he get? But for now, Warriors fans have every reason to be hyped. He led the team in scoring and tied for the team lead in assists. What a performance!
Grit from Ike, Growing Pains for Santos
Yaxel wasn’t the only one grabbing attention. Graham Ike, an undrafted rookie signed to a two-way contract, also snagged a double-double in his third career game with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Throw in 2 assists and a steal, and you’ve got to be pumped for what this guy brings. He shot 5-for-13 from the field and was perfect on his two free throws. While his 43.2% true-shooting percentage wasn’t exactly what you want from a big man, everything else about his performance screamed hustle and potential. The Warriors are clearly high on him, and that preseason excitement is definitely carrying over.
Gui Santos, however, had a tougher night. While his energy and hustle are always welcome, especially when the team is short-handed and needs to outwork opponents, he struggled to find his rhythm. He finished with 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, but only shot 1-for-4 from the field and 4-for-8 from the free throw line, giving him a 46.5% true-shooting percentage. He also got caught out of position on defense a few times. It wasn’t his best showing, but the effort was there.
So yeah, the Warriors are still looking for their first win, but the emergence of Yaxel Lendeborg and the strong showing from Graham Ike are huge bright spots. You gotta be excited about what these rookies are bringing to the floor, especially when the main guys are out. This team is back on the court soon, and you know everyone’s gonna be watching to see if these young guns can keep this energy rolling and snag that first W.
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