Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg leads team in minutes after historic start

Golden State Warriors fans who expected a rebuilding season are watching a 23-year-old rookie lead their team in playing time and offensive production. Yaxel Lendeborg, selected with the 11th overall pick, is averaging 22.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, and four assists in his first five games. These statistics place him among the top rookies in NBA history for the first stretch of a career.

Lendeborg’s rise was not immediate. He spent six years in college, starting at a junior college before working his way up. Before his athletic career took off, he worked in a warehouse where his mother also employed. This background contrasts with the typical prodigy narrative often associated with young NBA stars. He is currently 23 years old and stands 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds.

The timeline of his statistical achievements is dense. Lendeborg is the first Warriors rookie since Stephen Curry to score at least 25 points in three consecutive games. Through five games, he has recorded 113 points, 46 rebounds, and 20 assists. Only Larry Bird has achieved similar scoring, rebounding, and assist totals in the first five games of an NBA career.

Head coach Steve Kerr has granted Lendeborg a level of trust rare for a first-year player. Kerr called him the most professional rookie he has ever coached. The coach said the team puts the ball in Lendeborg’s hands during critical moments of games. Kerr noted that Lendeborg has a better feel for the game than the coaching staff initially realized.

Lendeborg has also engaged in public exchanges with other players. After his first game, he commented on Luka Dončić, saying he lost some respect for the guard. Both Curry and Kerr supported the rookie’s brashness, provided he backed it up with performance. Kerr has identified specific areas for improvement, including weak-side defense and shot creation. Kerr wants Lendeborg to use pump fakes and jump stops rather than forcing drives against rim protectors.

The Warriors’ front office had previously drafted players like James Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga, who did not meet the organization’s long-term expectations. Lendeborg’s early performance has shifted that outlook. The team is currently considering whether his presence changes their short-term strategy. They had planned for a lost season to prepare for a cap space splurge in 2027. Lendeborg’s ability to run the offense and score has made that plan less certain.

In his most recent game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Lendeborg scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds. He criticized his own performance as timid, citing seven turnovers. The Warriors are now using him as a primary creator in both half-court and transition offense, a role previously reserved for veterans.