Chandler Parsons Thinks Warriors’ Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg Can Help Right Now. Here’s Why.

Chandler Parsons is not one to mince words, especially when it comes to a guy he thinks can play. The former NBA wing turned Fox Sports 1 analyst made it clear this week that the Golden State Warriors nailed it with their first-round pick, Yaxel Lendeborg. And he’s not talking about some long-term project, either.

Speaking on FS1’s Run It Back, Parsons said Lendeborg is exactly what the Warriors need for next season. Not in two years. Not after some development stint in the G League. Right now.

“He’s 23 years old. He’s one of the oldest guys drafted in the first round,” Parsons said. “He meets their timeline right now with Draymond, with Steph Curry, to go and help them immediately.”

Lendeborg, taken 11th overall, comes off a massive season at Michigan where he won Player of the Year in the conference and an NCAA championship. Parsons didn’t try to sell him as some unpolished star with unlimited upside. He called it straight.

“He’s not one of those guys where the sky’s the limit for him. He is what he is,” Parsons said. “But he is an NBA player, and he’s going to be a great role player on this team as early as opening night. So I don’t mind the pick.”

The Full Circle Moment

Lendeborg, a New Jersey native, grew up a Kyrie Irving fan. Which is kind of funny, considering he’s now teammates with the guy Kyrie torched in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals. Lendeborg admitted as much when he was introduced this week.

“It’s a full-circle moment for me,” Lendeborg said. “I’ve been saying this every time I get asked this question, but in 2016, I’m a big Kyrie guy, so I used to hate Stephen Curry. So now that I’m actually going to be able to be on the same team as him and play and actually learn so much from him, it means a lot.”

Curry took it in stride. He posted on Instagram: “Welcome to the Bay! I’m going to work hard to be your new favorite player.”

There were rumors before the draft that teams like Oklahoma City had interest in Lendeborg. But the Warriors grabbed him, and with an aging core around Curry and Draymond Green, adding a guy who can step into a rotation immediately makes sense. Lendeborg and the Warriors start summer league in July.