It has been clear from the get-go that Yaxel Lendeborg was going to play a big part in the Golden State Warriors' success. During the preseason, head coach Steve Kerr was already talking about how critical he would be to the offense.
Lendeborg has taken the reins of the offense when Steph Curry is out or on the bench, but at one point, he was surprised by the opportunity.
“Well, it's very shocking to hear it now. But I mean, I get the point. The two other guys are hurt. Jimmy was one of the main scorers on this team. So, going to have to try to fill in his role until he gets back. And I've been in positions where I've had to score the ball a lot, I guess, or an extra amount that I would like. I feel like I'll be able to step into that role for sure. Just got to continue to work at it, get the confidence to do that. But I mean, I feel like everything's going to be trending up the right way," Lendeborg said.
The rookie has already faced off against one of the best players in the league, Luka Doncic. Lendeborg made it clear that he lost respect for Doncic after their first NBA matchup.
During a recent sit-down with Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, the NBA champion offered Lendeborg some advice, warning the rookie phenom that the league would humble him.
“As far as like your NBA journey, just stay with it. There's some freaks in this League you know what I mean? Like real monsters in this League. This sht will humble you. I thought I was the #1 option in Orlando, not really. Got to Denver, took a couple of steps back, won a championship, improved my game now. Know this League is going to humble you, just always bring that sht, what you learned from, like your mom's, what you learned from the job, bring that, bring that. That's why the Warriors picked you,” Gordon said.
Lendeborg is a mature rookie, so when he has a game in which a superstar gets the best of him, he isn't going to let it bother him. Instead, he can use that experience as motivation to improve.
The forward has been a great addition for the Warriors, and there is no sign of him slowing down. Gordon's advice was valuable, reminding Lendeborg that he needs to be ready for the challenges that come with playing in the NBA.
