Yaxel Lendeborg Reveals What He Has Learned From Steph Curry So Far

Most people only know guard Stephen Curry from television, but Golden State Warriors rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg now sees him up close every day.

The No. 11 pick in this year's draft out of Michigan was asked recently what has stood out to him so far, and his answer started with what happens before Curry ever gets the ball.

Lendeborg went on The Kevin O'Connor Show for a recent interview and said the first thing he noticed was how much contact Curry takes away from the ball.

He said Curry gets grabbed and held on every single play with no freedom of movement, so he has to keep running, almost like somebody is chasing him around all day.

"That's where all that stamina comes from and all those practice reps of him just running around screens and looking crazy, but it's like it's really needed for him to be able to get the ball or get open looks," Lendeborg said.

He said he understood that right away, and he has picked up something from Curry's routine too, since a lot of people call Curry a superstitious guy but Lendeborg now sees how much that routine helps him on the mental side of the game.

Most fans only see the shots that go in, so I like that a rookie is paying attention to the work that comes before them.

Forward Georges Niang has also talked about the pull Curry has on defenses, and Lendeborg will get to feel that pull from the start.

Head coach Steve Kerr confirmed Monday that Lendeborg will start on opening night against the Los Angeles Lakers, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Kerr had already hinted that the rookie was headed for a starting spot, so Lendeborg will be out there with Curry from the very first tip.

I think starting next to Curry is the best thing that could happen for his growth, because a forward who knows every defense is grabbing at Curry should also know when to cut and when to swing the ball, and those habits are what keep a young player on the floor.

Golden State opens the season Wednesday against the Lakers in Los Angeles, and Curry is expected to play after the ankle scare at Sunday's open practice.

He rolled his right ankle at Chase Center and went straight to the locker room, but Kerr said he was fine, and Curry went through a full practice Monday.

Kerr has also said Curry could start the year playing under 32 minutes a night.

The Warriors could still be short-handed on Wednesday, since guard Brandin Podziemski missed practice Sunday and Monday with lower-back soreness and is day-to-day.

Center Kristaps Porzingis is still out with no timeline, while forward Jimmy Butler is working his way back from a torn right ACL.

All of that puts more on Lendeborg's plate right away.

My take is that he already thinks about the game the right way, and if he keeps studying Curry this closely, I expect him to be one of the most important players on this team by the end of the season.