Yaxel Lendeborg scored 37 points in the Golden State Warriors’ 124-112 win over the LA Clippers on Sunday night, becoming the first Warriors rookie to reach that mark since Stephen Curry in 2010. The performance came just two weeks into Lendeborg’s professional career, and he has already scored 30 or more points twice. In his 112 college games, he had reached 30 points only once.
The Warriors rested Curry and Draymond Green on the first night of a back-to-back, saving them for Monday’s game against the Phoenix Suns and clearing the way for Lendeborg to take the lead on offence. He made 13 of 19 shots, including six 3-pointers.
“Whenever Steph’s not in the game, it’s my opportunity to try to be the leader, be the main guy on the team,” Lendeborg said.
A scorer emerges
Lendeborg spent three years in junior college before averaging 13.8 and 17.7 points across two seasons at UAB. He then contributed 15.1 points during Michigan’s national championship run last season. He entered the draft with a reputation as a skilled, do-everything wing who fit best as an ancillary part of an offensive attack.
The Warriors, however, have badly needed a second scoring option alongside Curry since Jimmy Butler tore an ACL last January. Lendeborg has stepped into that role with a readiness that has surprised many, including himself.
“We knew he was a good shooter,” coach Steve Kerr said. “When he came into work out for us [in June], you could see the skill. But I didn’t expect what I saw tonight.”
Reinventing his shot
Lendeborg rarely attempted 3-pointers for most of his college career, averaging only one attempt per game at UAB. After he arrived at Michigan, he said then-assistant coach Mike Boynton convinced him to shoot more because head coach Dusty May planned to use him at small forward. Lendeborg said it initially took him 40 minutes to make five 3-pointers in a row. Months later, he could make 20 in a row. In his one season at Michigan, he made 37% of his 4.5 attempts per game.
“My first time actually making [an off-the-dribble 3] was against Maryland,” Lendeborg said. “We were down and I just tried it because I’d made a couple of 3s. I’m already taller, so it gives me an advantage. I don’t really get much reps of it.”
In his seventh NBA game on Sunday, the 6-foot-10 forward looked comfortable pulling up from anywhere on the perimeter. Four of his six made 3-pointers came off the dribble, including a third-quarter run that had Curry celebrating from the bench.
“He’s playing this way and he really doesn’t know the NBA game yet,” Kerr said. “The game is still really fast for him, but he’s so skilled and so talented that he’s making all kinds of plays. He’s going to get a lot better.”
Lendeborg has now posted scoring nights of 26, 26, 31 and 37 points. He is averaging 22.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists, which has generated early buzz for Rookie of the Year.
“One thing I’m proud of myself is my 3-point shot diet,” Lendeborg said. “Last year, if I would’ve missed like three 3s, I’m never shooting another one in the game. In Denver, I started off 0-for-5 and I kept shooting.”
A lesson in stat-padding
Lendeborg’s Sunday also brought a lesson. While the Warriors were at the free-throw line late in what appeared to be a blowout, teammates De’Anthony Melton and Will Richard told him he was three points away from 40 and that he needed to chase it down. Lendeborg then spent the next few possessions hunting difficult 3-pointers. He missed all three, and the Clippers briefly cut the lead to eight. Kerr called a timeout and pulled him from the game.
“The NBA game these days can change like that,” Kerr said, snapping his fingers. “Almost every night, there’s a 25-point lead overcome.”
Lendeborg acknowledged the mistake and vowed to avoid that temptation in future.
“I’ve never been a stat chaser in my life,” Lendeborg said. “Falling into peer pressure like I did just now was bad on my part. I’m a guy that loves ethical hoops. I kind of didn’t do that for the last two or three minutes.”
With Lendeborg back on the bench, the Warriors avoided disaster and closed out the Clippers for their fourth consecutive win following an 0-3 start.
Expectations rising
The turnaround has pushed expectations for the season sharply upward, largely because of what is seen as Lendeborg’s rising upside.
“It’s remarkable the impact he’s making on these games in the first couple weeks of the season,” Kerr said. “It changes everything. On a night like tonight without Steph, we score 124 points and Yax is the main reason we are high powered.”