As if there couldn't be more excitement surrounding Yaxel Lendeborg entering the season, veteran forward Draymond Green has only added to it on the eve of training camp for the Golden State Warriors.
Green and Lendeborg have already been working out together as part of a minicamp hosted by Jimmy Butler, with the 36-year-old left incredibly impressed by the Warriors' prized 11th overall pick.
Draymond Green gives more reason to be excited about Yaxel Lendeborg
The two forwards have shared a rather fascinating relationship since the Warriors drafted Lendeborg in June, but his veteran teammate was full of praise during Green's latest episode of his podcast.
"Yaxel's talked a lot of s**t, that kid can play, now I don't wanna put some expectations on him because the NBA game is different, man...but he shoot the piss outta the basketball, I was very very very impressed, I'm excited to see where he can take it," Green said.
This is a notable quote given Green was essentially trash-talking Lendeborg earlier in the offseason, and because he's talking about a rookie who could well usurp him in the rotation rather quickly after what we saw in summer league. Should Lendeborg even manage to exceed the high expectations, there's a chance Green becomes a casualty through a mid-season trade that opens up even more opportunity for the 23-year-old.
It's also exciting to hear that Lendeborg's hot shooting has seemingly translated from summer league into this recent minicamp. The 6'9" forward shot 45.9% from beyond the arc on over six attempts per game during summer league, silencing some doubts over his jump-shot exiting the draft.
Yaxel Lendeborg could help extend Draymond Green's Warriors career
As much as some may view Lendeborg as a potential Green replacement, and while there's some intrigue over how the four-time champion may respond if that becomes the case, there's also an argument that Lendeborg's addition could help to extend Green's career.
The pair appear odds on to be Golden State's starting forward combination come opening night next month, with Lendeborg's size and skillset potentially aiding Green on both ends of the floor as he enters the final phase of his career.
There's certainly a world in which the two can co-exist and thrive together, particularly if Green becomes a more willing and better 3-point shooter as Steve Kerr has already envisioned for the four-time All-Star.
These comments should allay any concerns over Green being defensive about his position entering training camp, rather it only fuels excitement over what Lendeborg can do with the promise of a big role in his rookie year.
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