Warriors' Lendeborg dazzles with 37, regrets 'falling into peer pressure' to chase 40

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  Anthony SlaterNov 2, 2026, 01:26 AM ET

SAN FRANCISCO -- After reaching 30 points only once in his 112 career college games, Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg has already eclipsed 30 points twice in the first two weeks of his professional career.

The latest chapter of Lendeborg's explosion onto the NBA scene came in Sunday night's 124-112 win over the LA Clippers. Lendeborg made 13 of his 19 shots, six 3s and finished with 37 points, the most for a Warriors rookie since Stephen Curry in 2010.

On the front end of a back-to-back, the Warriors opted to rest Curry and Draymond Green, saving the duo for Monday night against the Phoenix Suns while clearing the Sunday runway for Lendeborg.

"Whenever Steph's not in the game, it's my opportunity to try to be the leader, be the main guy on the team," Lendeborg said.

After three years in junior college, Lendeborg averaged 13.8 and 17.7 points during his two seasons at UAB and 15.1 during last year's national championship run at Michigan. He's a capable scorer, but entered the draft with a reputation as a skilled, do-everything wing who best fits as an ancillary part of an offensive attack.

But the Warriors have been in desperate need of a second scoring option next to Curry ever since Jimmy Butler tore his ACL last January, and Lendeborg has stunned many -- including himself -- with his readiness to step into that role.

"We knew he was a good shooter," coach Steve Kerr said. "When he came into work out for us (in June), you could see the skill. But I didn't expect what I saw tonight."

Lendeborg rarely attempted 3s for most of his college career, averaging only one attempt per game at UAB. Upon arrival on Michigan's campus, he said then-assistant coach Mike Boynton convinced him to crank up the volume because of head coach Dusty May's plan to use him at small forward.

He said it initially would take him 40 minutes to make five 3s in a row. Months later, he could make 20 in a row. In his one season at Michigan, Lendeborg made 37 percent of his 4.5 attempts per game, showing rapid growth.

"My first time actually making (an off-the-dribble 3) was against Maryland," Lendeborg said. "We were down and I just tried it because I'd made a couple of 3s. I'm already taller, so it gives me an advantage. I don't really get much reps of it."

Fast forward to Lendeborg's seventh career NBA game Sunday night and the tape indicates a 6-foot-10 forward appearing comfortable and confident pulling up from any spot on the perimeter. Of Lendeborg's six made 3s, four were off the dribble, including a third-quarter flurry that had Curry celebrating in a frenzy from the bench.

"He's playing this way and he really doesn't know the NBA game yet," Kerr said. "The game is still really fast for him, but he's so skilled and so talented that he's making all kinds of plays. He's going to get a lot better."

"I've never been a stat chaser in my life. Falling into peer pressure like I did just now was bad on my part. I'm a guy that loves ethical hoops. I kind of didn't do that for the last two or three minutes." Yaxel Lendeborg

Lendeborg already has scoring nights of 26, 26, 31 and 37. He's averaging 22.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists, generating legitimate early buzz for Rookie of the Year.

"One thing I'm proud of myself is my 3-point shot diet," Lendeborg said. "Last year, if I would've missed like three 3s, I'm never shooting another one in the game. In Denver, I started off 0-for-5 and I kept shooting."

Lendeborg has been open about the lessons he has learned in his first two NBA weeks. On Sunday night, he tested the risk of stat-padding and was nearly burned.

While the Warriors were at the free throw line late in what appeared to be a blowout win, Lendeborg said two of his teammates -- De'Anthony Melton and Will Richard -- alerted him that he was three points away from 40 and he needed to chase it down.

So Lendeborg spent the next few possessions hunting difficult 3s, missed all three and it creaked open the door for the Clippers, who briefly cut the lead to eight. Kerr called timeout and pulled Lendeborg.

"The NBA game these days can change like that," Kerr snapped his fingers. "Almost every night there's a 25-point lead overcome."

Lendeborg vowed to avoid that mistake in the future.

"I've never been a stat chaser in my life," Lendeborg said. "Falling into peer pressure like I did just now was bad on my part. I'm a guy that loves ethical hoops. I kind of didn't do that for the last two or three minutes."

With Lendeborg on the bench, the Warriors avoided disaster and closed out the Clippers for a fourth consecutive win after an 0-3 start.

Within that sudden turnaround, the expectations on this season have pretty rapidly tilted upward because of what is perceived to be the rising upside of Lendeborg.

"It's remarkable the impact he's making on these games in the first couple weeks of the season," Kerr said. "It changes everything. On a night like tonight without Steph, we score 124 points and Yax is the main reason we are high-powered."