Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is absolutely owning the preseason, and his monster performances are front and center as the Golden State Warriors hit Las Vegas for their fifth exhibition game against the Los Angeles Lakers tonight at 7:00 PM PT on NBA TV. This isn’t just another tune-up game, not with what we’re seeing from the 11th overall pick.
Lendeborg Is Stacking Stats Like Crazy
This dude, Lendeborg, is seriously making a statement. Golden State rolled past the Kings 111-106 on Saturday, pushing their preseason record to 2-2, and Lendeborg was the undisputed star. He stuffed the stat sheet with 23 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and a steal! And get this: he shot 10-of-14 from the field. That’s efficiency, people. He led the team in rebounding, showing off that killer combination of size, activity, and versatility we’ve heard so much about. You know how some college success doesn’t always translate? Yeah, Lendeborg is proving that’s not his story. Even Stephen Curry, still on a 14-minute restriction, dropped eight points in that game, but it was Lendeborg who had everyone buzzing.
Golden State’s Small-Ball Unit Is Different This Time
The Warriors are experimenting, and it’s getting real interesting as the regular season gets closer. They kicked off preseason with a more traditional lineup, even throwing Al Horford out there at center. But now? They’ve shifted to a “small” unit that looks dangerous. We’re talking Draymond Green at the five, with Lendeborg and Gui Santos holding down the frontcourt, and Curry and Brandin Podziemski running the backcourt. In the past, going small with Green at center often meant sacrificing size for more shooting and playmaking. But with Lendeborg and Santos in the mix, this version can still get aggressive on the glass without giving up that crucial positional size or offensive versatility that’s always been a hallmark of Golden State’s success around Curry. It’s a new dynamic, and it’s exciting.
Tonight’s game against the Lakers is another huge chance for this group to build chemistry and really stake its claim as a potential starting five. You gotta watch how they gel. There are still pieces to sort out, like Steve Kerr mentioning Kristaps Porzingis will be meeting with the medical staff soon, and that Kerr is apparently leaning towards a starting five of Curry, Podziemski… but the rest is still up in the air! Lendeborg’s rise and this new small-ball look are the real draws as we count down to opening night.
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.
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