Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob is already convinced the team got its draft pick right with 24-year-old wing Yaxel Lendeborg, just two weeks into the season.
“Some teams never get it right, and we got this one right,” Lacob told 95.7 The Game on Monday. “I was 100% sold that this was the guy we wanted in the draft.”
The Warriors selected Lendeborg with the 11th pick this year, and he has made an immediate impact. He is averaging 21.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists over his first eight NBA games. On Sunday night, he produced a breakout performance with 37 points, leading the Warriors to a win over the LA Clippers without the resting Steph Curry.
A Promising Rookie on a Cheap Deal
Lacob praised the forward’s readiness for the professional game and said he had exceeded expectations from the outset.
“NBA general managers just love their 18- and 19-year-olds,” Lacob said. “We’ve all been guilty. There are some great upsides on these guys. But this guy seemed like a champion and ready to play. Everything we thought he could be he’s come in and exceeded that. He’s surprised Steve [Kerr] for sure. He doesn’t have any weaknesses.”
The Warriors have won five straight games after opening the season 0-3. Lendeborg gives them a young talent on a cheap rookie contract. His arrival also looks like a lottery success following the departures of two recent lottery picks: James Wiseman, taken second overall in 2020, and Jonathan Kuminga, taken seventh overall in 2021, who are no longer on the roster.
Lacob Defends the Franchise’s Drafting
Lacob acknowledged the club’s past missteps but argued that drafting is a difficult task.
“We’ve made our mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes,” Lacob said. “We didn’t get the draft exactly right or maybe we didn’t get the development right on a couple other higher draft choices in the past. Fine. Criticize us for that. But the draft is hard, guys.”