Yaxel Lendeborg is yet to step foot on an NBA floor outside of summer league, but one quote from head coach Steve Kerr proves the difference between the 24-year-old and other lottery picks the Golden State Warriors have had in the recent past.
“He’s just a basketball player,” Kerr said of Lendeborg at Warriors training camp. “I mean, he can dribble, pass, shoot. It doesn't really matter what position you play him.”
Warriors finally give Steve Kerr the lottery pick he wanted
Labelling Lendeborg "just a basketball player" may not sound like the most complementary phrase in the world, but it's something Kerr certainly didn't say about former top 10 picks in James Wiseman or Jonathan Kuminga.
Sure, they were and still are basketball players in the literal sense, but within the Golden State system and in the way Kerr wants to play, Wiseman and Kuminga came in as impressive athletes who the coaching staff had to try and mould to find an effective role for them.
Unfortunately neither became the long-term pillars of the franchise the Warriors were hoping for. Even after their departures from Golden State, Wiseman and Kuminga certainly haven't lived up to the hype of their stature as second and seventh overall picks respectively.
This isn't to denigrate them particularly when they've already been discussed so much, but it does serve as a worthy comparison to Lendeborg who is the type of lottery pick Kerr always wanted as the team continued to pursue win-now ambitions.
Dribble, shoot and pass sound like fundamentals of the game, yet Kerr and Golden State have distinctly lacked rotational players in recent years who excel in all three aspects. Throw in the fact Lendeborg is 6'9" and over 240 pounds, and you have a player who could immedietly become one of the Warriors' more important players.
Yaxel Lendeborg could average 30 minutes in his rookie year
With a roster that lacks some talent as they deal with long-term injuries to two key players, a player of Lendeborg's size and skillset brings a level of versatility that's going to make it incredibly difficult for Kerr to keep him off the floor.
Kerr already appears comfortable playing Lendeborg at either forward position, and another health concern for Kristaps Porzingis could even open the opportunity for the 11th overall pick to play some small-ball five minutes.
Lendeborg not only looks likely to step into a starting role from day one against the Los Angeles Lakers later this month, but he could well average 30 minutes a night as the Warriors manage their veterans through a long regular season.
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