Yaxel Lendeborg and Cam Boozer entered the league with a rivalry from their college days, and that's only heated up after their first week playing for the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies respectively.
Lendeborg and Boozer have been the two most impressive rookies through the first 10 days of the season, and there's been plenty of debate already over who should be in front in the Rookie of the Year race.
Yaxel Lendeborg and Cam Boozer rivalry is already heating up
NBA.com's Rookie of the Year ladder had Boozer over Lendeborg after the first week, citing his impact on the Grizzlies' surprising 4-0 start to the season. That's now become 5-0 after Thursday's win over the Trail Blazers in Portland, with the third overall pick recording his first career triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists in the impressive 124-103 victory.
There's still some Warrior fans, and perhaps even Lendeborg himself, who take exception to his place behind Boozer in the rankings. The 11th overall pick has averaged an incredible 226. points, 9.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists in his five games, while shooting 47.5% from the floor and 35.5% from three-point range.
Those averages have included 28.5 points across his last two outings, with Lendeborg leading the Warriors to impressive back-to-back road wins in Denver and Minnesota after an 0-3 start to the season.
Perhaps those three losses have ultimately cost Lendeborg top spot. There's a good chance that his battle with Boozer for Rookie of the Year, along with others who will inevitably enter the conversation as the season progresses, might come down to team record, such is the evenness in their individual impact.
Yaxel Lendeborg still has huge challenge to win Rookie of the Year
Lendeborg will certainly get the opportunity to win Rookie of the Year, having instantly emerged as Golden State's second-most important player. He's already logged an extraordinary 57 more minutes than any other Warrior player through five games, and will continue to play a significant role even when Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody return from injury.
However, the stacked nature of this draft class means Lendeborg will have to continue having this impact, and putting up these numbers, throughout the season while hoping the Warriors can secure a playoff spot.
It's worth noting that number one overall pick AJ Dybansta missed the first week of the season, but has now returned for the Washington Wizards and will undoubtedly put forward his case over the coming months.
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