Last summer, Mike Dunleavy’s front office had no doubt they had drafted the best available player with the 11th overall pick. 24-year-old Yaxel Lendeborg had just reached an NCAA high after winning a National Championship with the Michigan Wolverines, but he needed to transition into the NBA quickly. After all, expectations are high for a 24-year-old entering the league, let alone for a team that wants to win now. Though the pressure mounted, Lendeborg has made the switch from college to pro basketball look smoother than butter on bread.
Players frequently describe the two levels as almost different sports and mainly highlight the change of pace as the biggest differentiator. Lendeborg’s experience and maturity at 24 help bridge that gap quicker than any other newcomer. The Wolverine alum has logged a considerable 112 games before playing a single minute in the NBA, which stands at close to double the average college games of a rookie. While some may see that fact as a detriment, it’s actually a big reason why analysts saw the Dominican forward as a great pre-draft fit for the Warriors.
In terms of his skill set, Golden State has found immediate impact in Lendeborg. Standing at six-foot-nine, the Warriors draftee has become this group’s most versatile weapon. Through 11 games, ‘Yax’ has shown the face of an efficient scorer, averaging 52.3% from the field. He has grown comfortable working in all three levels, with his 44.3% shooting from beyond the arc particularly standing out. Golden State’s lack of size was a preseason concern, especially since it directly translates to fewer rebounds and more second-chance points from opponents. The 24-year-old has his fingerprints all over this department too, ranking as the Warriors leader in boards grabbed.
Before the season started, if someone told Steve Kerr that his newest first-year pro would give him double digits on a nightly basis and would grind on defense, he probably would’ve signed up. If instead he scored 21.4 points per contest and served as the primary on-ball defender, the Warriors head coach would probably jump for joy. To say that this 24-year-old athletic phenom has met expectations would undersell an amazing rookie campaign thus far. Currently sitting atop NBA.com’s Rookie of the Year ladder, Lendeborg has produced more than anyone could’ve thought.
