Yaxel Lendeborg has been the shining light for the Golden State Warriors through three games, and now the 11th overall pick has even been compared to Jimmy Butler by franchise superstar Stephen Curry.
An 0-3 start to the season has the Warriors even more desperate for Butler's return, but the way in which he and Lendeborg fit together adds even more intrigue to the six-time All-Star returning from his torn ACL.
Yaxel Lendeborg comparison adds intrigue to Jimmy Butler return
Speaking to Luca Evans of the San Fransisco Chronicle after Saturday's loss to the Phoenix Suns, Curry compared Lendeborg to Butler in terms of the offensive threat they pose.
"He can get schemes going where you highlight that and put him in a position to be successful with spacing around him. It’s very Jimmy-esque in a way, but a different way. Where he can slow possessions down and create a threat, whether it’s picking on a mismatch or driving the lane with space where nobody can really stay in front of him. And make teams make decisions," Curry said.
While things may look bleak for the Warriors right now as they play without Butler, Moses Moody and Kristaps Porzingis, the idea of a Lendeborg-Butler forward combination should excite fans and bring some reason for hope.
With Curry and Butler sidelined against the Suns, Lendeborg delivered a career-high 26 points to go with nine rebounds and five assists in another highly impressive and versatile performance from the 24-year-old.
Yaxel Lendeborg should be excellent fit with Jimmy Butler
There's no doubt that Lendeborg's touches and overall importance could shrink once Butler returns -- he's practically playing the role the veteran forward usually plays as the second offensive option behind Curry.
That's not to say we should expect Lendeborg's impact to fall. The versatility he brings should make him an excellent fit with Butler, in particular when it comes to his three-point shooting after going 6-of-11 in Phoenix on Saturday.
The real question may be what happens with Draymond Green in this scenario? Lendeborg clearly won't be going back to the bench and Butler will surely be part of the starting lineup even on a minutes restriction. Do the Warriors have to continue playing Green as a small-ball five? Will he even be part of the team past the trade deadline?
These are all questions that will be answered in the coming months, but Butler's return can't come quick enough as the Warriors try to get things back on track after a horror start.
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