Yaxel Lendeborg's stunning rise through the first week of the season is changing the entire complexion of the Golden State Warriors, while also impacting a number of players individually across the roster.
Stephen Curry is a winner as the minutes without the two-time MVP on the floor feel less daunting, while many of the high-end role players are positively impacted because they don't necessarily need to do as much in terms of creating offense.
Yet the biggest beneficiary may actually be still sitting on the sidelines, with Lendeborg's impact potentially offering a little more peace of mind for the Warriors and Jimmy Butler as the six-time All-Star continues his recovery from a torn ACL.
Jimmy Butler is Warriors' biggest winner from Yaxel Lendeborg rise
Coming into the season, and even just days ago, Butler was seen as the potential saviour of Golden State's season. They were going to be a mediocre to bad team, and only his return was going to change that.
The reality is that's an extremely unfair pressure and burden to place on a 37-year-old coming off one of the worst injuries you can have as an athlete. It's also one the Warriors created for themselves in by failing to make any major moves via free agency or trade.
Yet suddenly Lendeborg has proven their big addition, quickly emerging as Golden State's second-best player and effectively playing the Butler role as the key offensive conductor when Curry is on the bench.
Lendeborg's 57 combined points helped the Warriors to impressive road wins over the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. They're 2-3 on the season, but could be 4-1 if not for blowing a 12-point leads against the Grizzlies before resting most of their rotation in Phoenix. Lendeborg is providing optimism that Golden State can be a reasonable team even before Butler's return.
Warriors might not need Jimmy Butler to be their saviour
Lendeborg's rise means there's not the same level of desperation for Butler's return. Sure, everyone wants to see the star forward back on the floor, and the Warriors need him to play well when he does, but the entire season may not necessarily rest on his shoulders.
Butler might not need to be the saviour, and he may not ever need to be their second-best player again. Lendeborg has taken that mantle and may not relinquish it, particularly given it's only fair to expect that Butler won't ever be quite the same after such an injury at his age.
Butler will still place immense expectations on himself, but suddenly the external pressure isn't quite the same which should only means good things for he and the team upon his return.
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