On some level, without any further relevant context included, I can somewhat understand why Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg would think it's easier to rebound in the NBA.
That's what he saidafter the Warriors' preseason win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. The 25-year-old averaged nearly seven boards per game en route to winning 2026 Summer League MVP this past summer. In two preseason games this October, the 6-foot-9 has already grabbed nine rebounds ... twice. To be clear, those are impressive numbers! Good for Lendeborg for already seemingly finding a way to contribute in a meaningful way.
But here's the thing. Every minute of action Lendeborg has seen in the NBA so far has been of the exhibition variety. Every last
one. He hasn't played a single possession in a game that counts in the standings with experienced, savvy grown men boxing him out and throwing elbows and such for positioning down low. He's played against fellow rookies and young players still trying to make names for themselves, and against teams who are simply evaluating their current rotations while ramping up for the upcoming regular season. Nothing more.
No one actually cares who wins any of these games (at least, no one who is serious and logical). And that inherently affects the tenor of evaluating anyone's play right now. So, sure, it's nice that Lendeborg is getting a bunch of boards.
But to come out and say getting rebounds is easier in the NBA off of what is a pure exhibition sample size is extremely rich and naive:
“I feel like it’s a lot easier to get rebounds here (NBA). In college, the paint was always packed… These guys, I feel like, they’re more lazy to get the rebound.”
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) October 7, 2026
Yaxel has high expectations for himself when it comes to rebounding in the NBA 💯 pic.twitter.com/kLajtqdYoe
With time, maybe Lendeborg will be proven right. Maybe it turns out that one of his best skill sets at this level of basketball is rebounding. I could see it. All I ask is that he wait to make that grand assessment until he's done it against hyper-athletic and/or super stout big men, who are present all over the association.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Warriors rookie who has only played exhibition games thinks it's easier to rebound in NBA
