Every July, the NBA Summer League turns rational basketball fans into hype machines. One good quarter and suddenly a rookie is a future Hall of Famer. It’s part of the charm and part of the problem.
The Golden State Warriors needed this kind of hope more than most. They’re carrying one of the oldest rosters in the league, and their championship window is held together with Stephen Curry’s gravity and good intentions. Enter Yaxel Lendeborg, the 11th overall pick, who made his Summer League debut Saturday in a 104-72 demolition of the Los Angeles Lakers at the California Classic.
Lendeborg didn’t just play well. He was perfect. In 22 minutes, the 6-foot-9 forward from Michigan put up 19 points on 6-of-6 shooting, including a clean 4-of-4 from three-point range. He added six assists and five rebounds. That’s the kind of stat line that gets people talking about Rookie of the Year before the guy has played a real NBA game.
The Shooting Looks Real
The Warriors needed this version of Lendeborg badly. Last season, Golden State led the league in three-point attempts but finished 20th in percentage. Spacing was a constant problem, especially when Curry sat. Lendeborg’s catch-and-shoot mechanics looked fluid in his debut, and he even knocked down one off the dribble — a bonus skill that could make him a serious weapon if it holds up.
His 37.2 percent from deep as a Wolverine last season looks transferable so far. The footwork is there. The release is quick. He stepped into each triple with confidence, which is exactly what you want to see from a guy who will spend a lot of time standing in the corner while Curry draws two defenders.
But the shooting is just one piece. Lendeborg showed the playmaking and rebounding that made Golden State fall in love with him pre-draft. He pushed the break, found cutters, and looked comfortable running the offense in transition. That point-forward skill set is rare for a rookie, and it fits Steve Kerr’s system like a glove.
Will Richard Looks Ready to Jump
Lendeborg wasn’t the only young Warrior who stood out. Shooting guard Will Richard, entering his second season, looked like a different player than the one who hit the rookie wall hard last year.
Richard dropped 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting, hitting 4-of-5 from deep, and added three assists, three rebounds, and three steals. The highlight came when he picked Lakers guard Chris Manon’s pocket in the backcourt, then jogged to the corner and nailed a step-back three. It was the kind of sequence that says, I know I’m playing against guys I can bully.
What stood out more was the defensive quickness. Richard was a step faster at the point of attack, and the game seemed to slow down for him. That’s what you want to see from a second-year guy. The Warriors don’t need him to be a star. They need him to be reliable when veterans rest, and Saturday suggested he’s well on his way.
Graham Ike Might Be a Steal
Summer League is where undrafted guys make their case. Gonzaga center Graham Ike is doing exactly that. The 6-foot-9 bruiser put up 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, grabbed four boards, and dished three assists. He moved well in the pick-and-roll, showed soft touch around the rim, and anchored the defense as the backline big.
Golden State clearly likes what they see. They started him alongside Lendeborg and Richard on the “Gold” squad, not the “Blue” group sent to Sacramento. That placement matters. It means the front office thinks he could be something.
Ike’s mentality matches his build. At media day, a reporter asked if Gonzaga coach Mark Few had given him any parting advice. Ike didn’t hesitate: “Don’t tiptoe into a bar fight.” That’s the kind of quote that makes you root for a guy. And if he keeps playing like this, he might earn a real shot.
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