The Golden State Warriors selected Yaxel Lendeborg with the 11th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. With his rookie season fast approaching, Lendeborg could find himself thrust into an important role within Steve Kerr's rotation, especially as Golden State will be without both Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler for a long stretch of the season.
There's also been encouraging scuttlebutt coming out of the Warriors in recent days, with praise for Lendeborg's work ethic and skill set making its way through the media cycle. Al Horford became the latest member of Golden State's roster to speak on the rookie's talents, as he addressed the media on Monday, Sept. 28.
"It's just been really nice just to see him putting in the time on the court, in the weight room, and
taking care of himself," Horford said. "He's already ahead of the game as a rookie coming in. Just being mindful of how to prepare and take care of himself. I mean, he can do a lot of things, and he reminds me of Michael Beasley in terms of skill and talent. That he can just really, really score the ball, tough, can get to the basket, can finish. But then the one thing that I've been really impressed by playing with him so far is his IQ and his feel for the game. The way that he reads defenses and the way that he makes decisions, it's setting him apart right away. So that's the thing that has impressed me the most about him."
Lendeborg joins the Warriors at a time when there's a young core developing behind the veteran talents of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, and Horford. There's a legitimate chance that he could develop into the Warriors' next All-Star-level talent, assuming he's given the opportunity to play through his mistakes and learn on the fly.
It's clear that those within the Warriors organization are excited about what Lendeborg brings to the table. Hopefully, he can prove everyone right once the season gets underway and, in turn, give Warriors fans another reason to be excited about what the future holds.
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This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg earns high praise from Al Horford
