It is fair to say that Yaxel Lendeborg holds himself to high standards. Five games into his NBA career, the Golden State Warriors rookie leads his class in points, rebounds and three-pointers while ranking second in assists. Still, he boarded the team's flight home Wednesday night with a bad taste in his mouth. How many rookies in their fifth career game would be dissatisfied with a 26-point, nine-rebound performance against a young, athletic Timberwolves team?
"He feels terrible in there. He's not happy at all," Steve Kerr said of Lendeborg after Golden State's 119-114 win at Target Center.
Yaxel Lendeborg learns to balance aggression with control
The reason behind his discontent was the seven turnovers he committed, six of which came in the second half, including three in the fourth quarter. As the Wolves ramped up their ball pressure during their late push, Lendeborg lost his handle a couple of times and tried to force the issue.
With just over eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Lendeborg opted to drive into the paint despite having three Minnesota defenders between him and the basket rather than immediately swinging the ball to an open Will Richard in the corner. After the defenders swarmed him and knocked him off balance, he did kick it out to the corner, but his pass was off target and went out of bounds.
A couple of minutes later, Lendeborg, with a smaller but quicker Ayo Dosunmu guarding him on the perimeter, first tried to blow by the guard. Dosunmu moved his feet and managed to stay in front of Lendeborg, forcing him towards the sideline. Lendeborg then started to overdribble, stubbornly trying to get by Dosunmu before eventually losing the ball out of bounds, causing another turnover in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
For Kerr, it's all about Lendeborg taking what the defense gives him and playing within the flow of the offense.
"We just show him the film and get him to understand time and score," Kerr said when asked what he could do to help Lendeborg in those high-intensity situations. "It's a great lesson for him. The simple play is the best one over and over and over again. And we have enough guys on this team who are going to turn it over so he needs to be solid. He needs to learn the value of just making the simple play."
Part of Lendeborg's frustration stemmed from his carelessness with the ball, but he was also unhappy with the way he attacked, saying that "he played hella soft" and didn't use his body enough. His vet, Draymond Green, also mentioned that to him during the game. Right after Lendeborg lost his handle against Dosunmu, Green told him to drive through somebody's chest.
A couple of possessions later, after a Minnesota made basket, Lendeborg received the inbound pass, used a back screen Green set at half court, and went right to the basket. There were still 17 seconds left on the shot clock when his layup kissed off the glass and dropped through the net.
"You tell him something, and he comes down the next play, and it happens," Green said after Monday's win in Denver. "He applies it right away. So that's special in itself."
The rookie has already adjusted his approach at the rim to make his attempts more challenging for shot blockers to reject. His weak-side defense, which Kerr described as poor last week, has looked notably better over his last two games. Finding that balance between keeping his aggressiveness up and not forcing the issue when the play is not there will be another key part of Lendeborg's development.
That balance will be especially important as the Warriors wait for Jimmy Butler to return. Kerr mentioned after Monday's game in Denver that Lendeborg can provide some of what Butler does: slow the game down, get to the line, and create for himself and others. Taking care of the ball and choosing his spots are also major aspects of Butler's game.
Lendeborg’s health will be key ahead of Luka Doncic rematch
Lendeborg, who was listed as questionable before the game with left foot soreness, acknowledged that the injury might have hampered his decisiveness a little bit, saying that it may have been his only excuse for being timid offensively.
"Man, it's not feeling good right now," he said when asked about his foot after the game. "I think I'll be good by tomorrow. I need a good day off – rest as much as possible, as much treatment as possible – and I think I should be fine."
That day off will also be useful for him to get his legs back and recover from what's been a strenuous first stretch in the NBA. Through five games, Lendeborg has logged by far the most minutes on the team, the second-most among rookies – trailing only the Chicago Bulls' Caleb Wilson – and is tied for 13th-most in the entire league. The Warriors need him as healthy as possible for what lies ahead.
With the Los Angeles Lakers next on the schedule, a different type of challenge awaits Lendeborg, one he faced in his first NBA game. Keeping up with Luka Doncic requires a lot of focus and energy. Lendeborg admitted after their first heated meeting that guarding the six-time All-Star left him without enough juice to get downhill and provide his usual level of production on the other end. He took just 11 shots, finished with 12 points, and attempted just three free throws – missing two of them – in his first game against the Lakers. Each figure matched a season low.
Given his current physical status and his importance on the offensive end, it will be interesting to see whether the Warriors decide to put him on Luka every time down the floor. One thing is for sure: Lendeborg is excited for Friday's rematch.
"Absolutely, absolutely. Yes, yes I am," Lendeborg enthusiastically answered when asked if he was looking forward to the matchup against L.A. "But, you know, I'll talk about that more on Friday."
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