Warriors rookie Lendeborg targets early rotation spot after Summer League showing
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The Golden State Warriors’ first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg believes his Summer League performance left room for improvement, but the 23-year-old forward is confident he can contribute immediately when the regular season begins.
Selected 11th overall out of Michigan in June, Lendeborg averaged 13.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.3 steals in 25.8 minutes over six games split between the California Classic and Las Vegas circuits. Despite the solid numbers, he told the San Francisco Chronicle he would grade himself a “C-plus or B-minus,” citing defensive lapses and conditioning.
“I feel like I could have been a lot better, a lot more aggressive,” Lendeborg said. “But it’s a new system and a new team—I don’t want to be overbearing and overplay my part.”
With veterans Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody sidelined by major leg injuries, head coach Steve Kerr is weighing options at forward. Lendeborg is expected to battle second-year wing Gui Santos for minutes and could even earn an opening-night start.
“I just want to provide an instant spark,” the rookie added. “We have a lot of injuries at my position, so I feel like that gives me the perfect opportunity to play right away—or at least show the guys I’m going to help right away.”
Lendeborg said he has not lobbied the coaching staff for playing time: “I don’t want to be demanding minutes. Hopefully they see I’m deserving of the chance, and I can make the most of it.”
Off the court, the forward admitted he was uneasy after Draymond Green remarked on his podcast that he plans to “rein in” the newcomer following what Green called Lendeborg’s “pointless” public pitch to recruit LeBron James during a live-stream interview.
“I got a little nervous,” Lendeborg said with a laugh. “I don’t know what he’s talking about. He could be hinting at a lot of different things. Hopefully it’s not rookie hazing—I hope we keep that at a minimum.”
In a separate conversation with ClutchPoints, Lendeborg discussed lessons from the NBA’s rookie transition program and said Summer League helped him shed early nerves as he prepares for his first year in the league.
Source: HoopsRumors
