Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has urged rookie Yaxel Lendeborg to be more aggressive scoring the ball, but he might not need to give the 11th overall pick the same persuasion when it comes to his work on the boards.
It took just one preseason game for Lendeborg to look very much like a player who could lead the Warriors in rebounding this season, having grabbed nine in less than 19 minutes during the Warriors’ 104-101 defeat to the L.A Clippers in Hawaii on Sunday.
Yaxel Lendeborg could lead the Warriors in rebounding this season
Lendeborg was everywhere on the glass in his first outing since winning summer league MVP and leading Golden State to the championship in Las Vegas. The 24-year-old had one offensive rebound and eight on the defensive end, using his 6'9" frame and basketball instincts to snatch boards and push the ball in transition.
It was the most positive aspect from a mixed first preseason outing for Lendeborg. He nailed a wing three on the first possession of the game from a Stephen Curry assist, but that would be all from a field-goal standpoint as he only added one more solitary point from the free-throw line.
Lendeborg finishing shooting just 1-of-6 from the floor, with Kerr already calling for him to be more aggressive in what appears like an underwhelming Warrior offense based on the first preseason game.
However, his rebounding was excellent, he had a notable chase down block on Clippers guard Gradey Dick in the opening half, and his playmaking in pick-and-roll situations was a highlight from his brief minutes in the second-half before being shut down for the remainder of the game.
Yaxel Lendeborg might lead Warriors in rebounding by default
Since Kevon Looney's departure from Golden State in the 2025 offseason, the team has been without a truly elite rebounder -- or at least one that plays notable minutes in the rotation.
Draymond Green's rebounding has been on the decline over the past two seasons, while Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford aren't great rebounders anymore considering their size. Charles Bassey is arguably the Warriors' best rebounder and he had eight (including six offensive) in less than 17 minutes on Sunday, but he's also likely to be a bit-part player in Kerr's rotation.
Lendeborg, on the other hand, could verge on 30 minutes per night. Given the lack of elite rebounding elsewhere in the main rotation, the 24-year-old could comfortably average 7-8 boards per game and lead the team in that category during his rookie year.
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