Warriors rookie – Yaxel Lendeborg, the Golden State Warriors’ No. 11 draft pick, went 6-for-6 and finished with 19 points in 22 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers on July 3 at Chase Center. Even with praise pouring in from the Bay Area crowd, he focused on what he needs to
SAN FRANCISCO — The arena was still buzzing when Yaxel Lendeborg stepped off the court at Chase Center on July 3. swarmed by fans who had cheered for him all game and then waited near the exit tunnels to congratulate him. In a California Classic debut that felt bigger than summer league, the Warriors’ No. 11 draft pick made a statement with a simple, unforgiving stat line: 19 points in 22 minutes, and not a single miss.
Against the Los Angeles Lakers, Lendeborg went 6-for-6 from the field and was equally sharp beyond the arc, going 4-for-4 from 3-point distance. The performance carried him from opening minutes to the final buzzer, as the Warriors rookie “carved up” the Lakers from start to finish.
Warriors coach Khalid Robinson said the kind of game Lendeborg played was what the team expected to see translate from practice to the floor. Robinson told reporters. “I thought that Yax will play with a really high level of force and physicality. like that was a point emphasis for us all week. just force and physicality and everything that we do. He showed a little bit of everything in his game, obviously shot the ball well, started the game. He had some really good passes, play-making defensively.”.
The box score backed up that view in more ways than shooting. Lendeborg also finished with five rebounds, a steal, and a block. And for a night defined by accuracy. what stood out to people watching was how active he was on the floor—both in the scoring and in the quieter work that doesn’t always fill highlight reels.
But Robinson’s praise didn’t stop at impact plays. What often goes overlooked, he suggested, was Lendeborg’s ability to help create for others.
Lendeborg also leaned into that point when he spoke about his game. He said, “Yeah, I’d say definitely my passing is a little underrated. I feel like I’ve always had a good assist-to-turnover ratio. Today doesn’t really do it much justice, but I mean, I’ve definitely done a good job.”
He added that his path to the scorer’s role has been gradual. “When I first started playing basketball, I was strictly a passionate rebounder. So those have always been kind of my strength. but I turned more into a scorer these last two. three years. So, I mean, everything’s been changing, but I try to be as versatile as possible.”.
Even with the crowd behind him, Lendeborg wasn’t trying to sell a perfect night. He acknowledged that the game wasn’t flawless, especially in one area that matters in the NBA immediately: physicality.
“I gave up a lot of rebounds today. I need to go back and watch the film. I wasn’t physical enough. I mean, I got to get used to physicality here, for sure. So, I mean, I feel like I could have had at least four to five more rebounds today.”
Out of the tunnel and into the noise, the rookie still managed to sound grateful more than satisfied. Fans repeated his name throughout the game, and he described how much that reception meant in the early stage of his Bay Area adjustment.
“It was lovely. I really appreciated them,” Lendeborg told reporters. “The entire game I heard people scream my name and just saying. like. ‘good job’. and. like. ‘we’re happy to have you.’ So. I tried to try to get everybody. at least acknowledge everybody. It was a little tough to. but I could definitely see how this crowd has been so good over the years. Like, these guys really, really appreciate the Warriors basketball, and I really appreciate them already.”.
He said the moment landed with the certainty rookies rarely get on the first try—when the season hasn’t even started and expectations are still forming. “Like, it was the first game, but it definitely felt like I belong, like these guys really love me. So I’m definitely excited for (the) rest of the season. I’m gonna try to get as many kids or as many fans as I can. ’til security gets me out every time.”.
Lendeborg and the Warriors will play again on Sunday, July 5, when the California Classic continues at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Golden State Warriors Yaxel Lendeborg NBA summer league California Classic Chase Center Los Angeles Lakers July 3 draft pick 3-point shooting rookie debut