Warriors' Yaxel Lendeborg Hyped by Kerr Ahead of Rookie Season, 'One of Our Best Players Already'

Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg is on track to get significant playing time during his rookie NBA season.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr told ESPN's Anthony Slater Lendeborg is "going to play a ton."

"Frankly, he deserves it," Kerr said, per Slater. "He's one of our best players already."

Slater's report comes shortly after Lendeborg posted 17 points, nine rebounds and two assists while starting for the Warriors in a preseason blowout of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Lendeborg has spent time in both preseason and training camp as part of a potential starting five alongside Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Draymond Green and Al Horford.

When asked last week by Bonta Hill and Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports' Dubs Talk Podcast if Lendeborg was the "most pro-ready rookie" he'd had on his roster as the Warriors coach, Kerr answered, "Yeah, 100 percent."

"He's the most prepared, most ready guy," Kerr told Hill and Johnson. "I think he was coached really well last year by Dusty May."

Kerr added Lendeborg's biggest focus should be improving his "defensive awareness" heading into his first NBA campaign.

The Warriors coach has previously said he wants Lendeborg to also be more aggressive on offense, a message that has been echoed by Green.

Green said on an Oct. 4 episode of his podcast players like Lendeborg and Jimmy Butler "see the floor so well that when you want them to have tunnel vision and go score" they sometimes focus more on passing opportunities.

Lendeborg was selected by the Warriors with the No. 11 pick of the 2026 draft. After beginning his college career at Arizona Western College, he transferred to UAB and then to Michigan, where he averaged 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds during the Wolverines' run to a national title.

Kerr will hope what he described as a "chip" on Lendeborg's shoulder from his beginning as an unranked JUCO prospect will help the rookie continue developing on both ends of the court as he prepares to tip off his first regular season Oct. 21 at the Los Angeles Lakers.