Yaxel Lendeborg gave the Warriors another strong night in an otherwise ugly loss to the Grizzlies.
The Golden State Warriors finally lost a Summer League game on Tuesday, falling 106-85 to the Memphis Grizzlies in Las Vegas.
Memphis hit 17 of its 32 threes and ripped off a 29-13 third quarter to turn a close game into a blowout, dropping both teams to 2-1 in Las Vegas.
Golden State had won its first four games of the summer between the California Classic and Vegas, so the 4-2 overall mark still looks fine, but the night itself offered very little for the team to feel good about.
The one exception, once again, was rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg.
Another Strong Line
The No. 11 pick finished with 15 points, nine rebounds, and three assists on 6 of 12 shooting, adding two steals in 29 minutes.
It was the first game all summer he failed to make a three, and he responded by attacking the rim instead, at one point getting into the body of No. 3 pick Cam Boozer and dropping in a floater over him.
With Steve Kerr watching from the stands, the coaching staff even gave him second half minutes at small ball center, a spot Draymond Green made famous in Golden State while averaging 8.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists last season before hitting free agency.
Why He Keeps Standing Out
Lendeborg has been the best story of the Warriors' summer so far.
He opened with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists against Dallas, then hung 14 on Oklahoma City while hitting four threes, and before Tuesday the Warriors had outscored opponents by 40 points in his minutes.
The passing feel jumps out for a 6-foot-9 forward, and Stephen Curry has already pointed to him as a reason to believe in the young core.
What makes it more impressive is that the 23-year-old admits he is nowhere near full shape after resting injuries from Michigan's national title run.
"Maybe I just took too long of a break, man, because I've never felt this winded ever in my life," Lendeborg said. "But once I get back in shape, I know I'll be good."
The Role Waiting for Him in October
Golden State went 37-45 last season and missed the playoffs, and the roster has not gotten any younger since.
Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody are expected to miss time to start the year, Green remains unsigned, and the front office has spent most of its summer adding veteran frontcourt depth while waiting on LeBron James.
That leaves real wing minutes open from opening night, and Lendeborg was drafted with the idea that his age and polish would let him grab them right away.
If the shooting from these first two weeks is real, there is no reason he should not be in the rotation when the season starts.
The Warriors will try to get back on track Thursday against the Knicks in Las Vegas.
