Golden State Warriors Head Coach Explains Power Duo Of Draymond Green And Yaxel Lendeborg

Steve Kerr talks about Yaxel Lendeborg and Draymond Green© Instagram/ yaxellendeborg and Instagram/ money23green

Rookies usually take a while to find their place on a new team. Steve Kerr says Yaxel Lendeborg has barely needed that time. Especially when he shares the floor with Draymond Green. Ahead of the Golden State Warriors game against the Miami Heat, Kerr explained why Yaxel and Draymond's combination works so perfectly.

What Kerr Sees In Lendeborg

Kerr put it plainly: “Yaxel has been a great fit is because Yaxel has a really good feel for basketball. He's got very good instincts.” Coaches don't praise first-year players very often. A feel for the game can't be drilled into someone the way a play call can. A player either sees the floor a half-second early or he doesn't. Lendeborg does that effortlessly, according to the head coach.

The detail Kerr leaned on most was how Lendeborg handles the ball. “He rarely catches and holds the ball. He gets off it pretty quickly, and everybody likes to play with someone who moves the ball.”

Anyone who has played pickup knows the feeling. Some teammates make you want to cut harder and spot up sooner because you trust the ball will find you. Others stall the offense every time it reaches them. Kerr is saying Lendeborg is the first kind.

Why It Works With Draymond

The pairing with Green makes sense. Green has spent his whole career as the guy who keeps the offense moving, reading the floor and making the extra pass. In the same statement, Kerr previously stated, “It is very important because Draymond is a unique offensive player. He's gonna be in a lot of pick-and-roll. He's gonna play out of the pocket. He's gonna find the cutter.”

He further added, “He's also gonna ask you to screen for Steph. You know when Steph is in the pain to set a pin down for him and recognise when the slip is available, where the space is on the court.”

The head coach believed that both Draymond and Yaxel's gameplay complimented each other. This makes Yaxel a great fit alongside Green.