Yaxel Lendeborg likes his chances of being in the rotation

Steve Kerr is notoriously strict on rookies being in the rotation, more so if said rookie don’t particularly fit the profile that his offense requires — i.e., a high-IQ operator who moves the ball, moves off of it, and does all the blue-collar work, especially when surrounded with someone with the s

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What is the story about?

Steve Kerr is notoriously strict on rookies being in the rotation, more so if said rookie don’t particularly fit the profile that his offense requires — i.e., a high-IQ operator who moves the ball, moves off of it, and does all the blue-collar work, especially when surrounded with someone with the stature of Steph Curry.

The Golden State Warriors’ lottery pick fully understands that precedent:

Yaxel Lendeborg on his early conversations with Steve Kerr: “He doesn’t normally play rookies as much. He has

a history of that. But the way the team is looking right now, I’m going to have a really good chance to play, maybe even start.” pic.twitter.com/Vm1DXhkjUO

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 26, 2026

“He doesn’t normally play rookies as much. He has a history of that. But the way the team is looking right now, I’m going to have a really good chance to play, maybe even start.”

Lendeborg is a unique player profile. At 6-foot-10, he has the height and length to play both ends of the floor, with the high-IQ profile that Kerr values in his players. Such a combination is too hard of a prospect to keep holstered on the back end of the bench.