Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg appears like he's going to enter the league with a chip on his shoulder, particularly when it comes to any comparisons with third overall pick Cam Boozer.
Lendeborg and Boozer already have a budding rivalry before even stepping foot onto an NBA floor, and a recent ESPN prediction offers the young Warrior forward another fresh source of motivation ahead of his rookie year.
Cam Boozer ROY prediction gives Yaxel Lendeborg new motivation
Through an extensive poll of their reporters, editors and analysts, ESPN have predicted that Boozer will win Rookie of the Year in what's a loaded class of talented first-year players who should see significant on-court opportunity.
That extends to Lendeborg who could garner a starting role for Golden State from day one, but he's been completely omitted from the top five of the poll which features Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybansta, Caleb Wilson and Darius Acuff Jr. behind Boozer.
Between Boozer being predicted to win and not making the list at all himself, this will undoubtedly sting Lendeborg and only further fuel him to prove everyone wrong after the Warriors selected him 11th overall in June.
The Boozer prediction is understandable given he'll step in as arguably the most important player on a young rebuilding Grizzlies team. Lendeborg's biggest gripe may be his absence from the top five, particularly after leading the Warriors to a championship in Las Vegas, winning MVP, and the fact he'll be 24-years-old come opening night.
Those factors should lend itself to Lendeborg being right in the frame for Rookie of the Year, but evidently it's been brushed off by the ESPN experts who've opted for the top four draft prospects and Acuff who was taken seventh by the Sacramento Kings.
Yaxel Lendeborg has already developed rivalry with Cam Boozer
Not only did Lendeborg lead Golden State to the Summer League championship, he did so against Boozer's Grizzlies in a thrilling 94-90 victory last month. Lendeborg had 21 points and 10 rebounds, including nine in the defining fourth-quarter as the Warriors overcame a 12-point deficit. Boozer, meanwhile, had 19 points and eight rebounds, but scored just two points on 1-of-5 shooting in the final period.
Lendeborg revealed after the game that he thinks about revenge every time the young two forwards going against each other, while even claiming that Boozer gets saved by the referees when they battle.
Lendeborg won't have to wait long for some more revenge and to prove the ESPN experts wrong, with the Warriors hosting the Grizzlies in their home opener at Chase Center on October 23.
Add us as a preferred source on Google