Yaxel Lendeborg Speaks on 'Crazy' Experience of Playing With Steph Curry

Rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg is only two preseason games into his time with the Golden State Warriors, but he has already figured out what it means to play next to guard Stephen Curry.

After a 124-98 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday at Chase Center, the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft out of Michigan talked about how much easier the game gets when the best shooter in the building is on his side.

Lendeborg scored a game-high 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds in 21 minutes, which was a big jump from the preseason opener against the Clippers when he went 1 of 6 from the field.

Coach Steve Kerr had pointed to what the rookie needed to work on after that first game, and Lendeborg looked much more willing to go at the rim.

Curry only needed 14 minutes to score 16 points, and he hit a pair of and-one threes in the first half.

Lendeborg said Curry draws the toughest defense on the floor but still finds a way to get loose, and he also talked about seeing one of those and-one plays up close.

"For me, it's like, he's always open somewhere," Lendeborg said of Curry after the win over the Lakers. "But I mean, he definitely makes it easier for me to see the floor, and have that extra, like, driving lane."

I think this is the pairing the Warriors had in mind when they drafted Lendeborg.

Defenses send extra help toward Curry every time he moves, and a young forward who can catch and drive right away is a great way to punish them for it.

Lendeborg did that, and the starting group of Curry, Lendeborg, guard Brandin Podziemski, forward Draymond Green and forward Gui Santos moved the ball well together.

The Lakers did sit guard Luka Doncic, guard Austin Reaves and several other regulars, so this was not a real test. Still, I like the way Lendeborg read the floor, and it builds on what stood out from the opener for the young players.

The timing works out well for Golden State too, since center Kristaps Porzingis was still not on the bench on Tuesday after missing all of training camp with what general manager Mike Dunleavy called a health issue, and the worry around his situation keeps growing.

Center Al Horford also sat against the Lakers with a left knee contusion, which a team source called mostly a precaution.

With the frontcourt that thin, the Warriors are going to need Lendeborg early, and there is no better place for him to grow than next to Curry.

Lendeborg did not play on Wednesday when the Warriors lost 123-118 to the Trail Blazers in Portland, as Curry, Green and most of the regular rotation stayed home on the second night of a back-to-back.

Golden State hosts the Sacramento Kings on Saturday at Chase Center and opens the regular season against the Lakers on Oct. 21.

If Lendeborg keeps attacking like he did against the Lakers, I expect him to have a real spot in the rotation on opening night.