Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg puts up historic numbers for Warriors

Yaxel Lendeborg is playing better than any Golden State Warriors rookie since Stephen Curry.

Through his first five games this season, the No. 11 pick is averaging 22.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and four assists. His 113 total points rank third all time for a player in their first five career games, behind only Kevin Durant and Paolo Banchero. He is the first player since Shaquille O'Neal in 1992 to record at least 100 points and 46 rebounds in that span. Only Larry Bird and Lendeborg in NBA history have logged 100 points, 40 rebounds, and 20 assists in their first five games.

Lendeborg is 23 years old and spent six years playing college basketball. He began at a junior college and worked a job in a warehouse before his career took off. This background has given him a maturity that head coach Steve Kerr values. Kerr noted that Lendeborg has a better feel for the game than expected. The coach trusts the rookie enough to give him the ball at critical moments. Kerr said it is extremely rare for a rookie to be that advanced already.

Lendeborg has also been vocal. He criticized Luka Doncic for flopping during and after his first NBA game. Both Curry and Kerr said they liked his brashness but told him to back it up with play. Lendeborg has done so, scoring 31 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists against Denver. That performance made him the first Warriors rookie since Curry in 2010 to record a 30-point, 10-rebound, and 5-assist game. He also recorded 26 points, nine rebounds, and five assists against Phoenix and 26 points and nine rebounds against Minnesota.

Kerr has pointed out areas for improvement. He wants Lendeborg to be more creative when attacking shot blockers and to focus more on weak-side defense. Lendeborg has committed 18 turnovers in his last four games. He described his performance against Minnesota as timid and hella soft. Despite the mistakes, he leads the team in minutes. The Warriors have a top-five offensive rating during his time on the floor. Lendeborg is shooting 8 of 12 from three-point range on spot-up shots. He is using his size and athleticism to drive to the rim and facilitate for teammates.

The Warriors have struggled to find a franchise cornerstone since Curry. General Manager Joe Lacob has missed on several high draft picks in recent years. Those include James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga, and Jacob Evans. Lendeborg offers a different skill set. He is a floor spacer, a transition runner, and a pick-and-roll initiator. He can handle the ball in the half court and defend physically. His ability to split defenders on pick-and-roll plays has already been evident in several games. He has shown he can finish at the rim or kick out to corner shooters when the defense collapses.

The team had planned to use this season as a reset year while preparing for a salary cap space move in 2027. Lendeborg's early success raises the question of whether the Warriors are one piece away from contention. He has earned the trust of the veterans. Draymond Green and Curry have encouraged him to keep driving through defenders. Lendeborg has said he wants to leave Kerr with the impression of someone willing to learn. He is currently leading the team in minutes played and is the primary offensive option when the game is on the line.