HONOLOLU, Hawaii — Preseason basketball usually comes with a heavy dose of healthy skepticism, but certain lineup choices are simply too noisy to ignore. Seeing Yaxel Lendeborg starting in the preseason opener surprised plenty of Bay Area fans. Throwing a rookie directly into the opening lineup alongside future Hall of Famers is rarely how Golden State handles developmental timelines. Doubting the Yaxel Lendeborg decision seemed reasonable back in July, but the rookie is quickly making believers out of everyone.
What makes this leap even more eye opening is who was sent to the bench as a result. Gui Santos was coming off a career year that earned him a lucrative three year, $15 million contract extension last February. Santos earned every penny of that deal by serving as a relentless spark plug and do-it-all wing when the team was short on bodies. Yet, when camp opened, the coaching staff opted to shuffle the deck early.
Displacing a newly paid fan favorite
Head coach Steve Kerr has searched for years for a specific forward archetype to pair with his veteran core. The Golden state warriors needed an athletic forward who plays with high IQ and . They required someone who functions in that classic Shawn Marion or Aaron Gordon mold, a high flying athlete who crashes the offensive glass, finishes lob passes out of the dunker spot, and reads defensive rotations in real time.
For seasons, Steve Kerr envisioned Jonathan Kuminga growing into that exact connective role. While Kuminga possessed raw explosive leaping ability, he often stalled the motion sets by needing the ball in his hands to feel engaged. Lendeborg operates on a completely different processing clock. He cuts into empty space before defenders even turn their heads, sets quick screens, and keeps the ball moving without hesitation. With Yaxel Lendeborg starting beside the core veterans, the fast break moves with effortless fluidity.
The Yaxel Lendeborg decision is unlocking the athletic connective forward
The rookie brings elite defensive flexibility, capable of switching onto perimeter wings while maintaining rim protection instincts in help coverage. He does not demand plays drawn up for him, making him a dream partner for elite playmakers who thrive on off ball chaos. That high situational awareness is precisely why Steve Kerr feels comfortable giving the rookie immediate trust right away.
Looking back, this bold Yaxel Lendeborg decision looks less like a temporary preseason experiment and more like a permanent breakthrough. Santos remains a vital piece of the rotation, but Lendeborg adds a physical pop that the warriors starting five desperately lacked last spring. If this early sample size holds when the real games begin, the Golden state warriors may have stumbled upon their most dynamic young wing in years.
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