Steve Kerr has been asking Yaxel Lendeborg to leave the gym as the eager Warriors rookie prepares to compete for a significant role.
Steve Kerr has encountered an unusual coaching responsibility with Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg: encouraging him to spend less time in the gym.
“He just can’t stay out of the gym,” Kerr said in a clip shared by NBC Sports Bay Area.
The comment offers an early indication of how seriously Lendeborg is approaching his first NBA season. For a rookie trying to earn trust on a team led by Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, that commitment is a useful starting point.
Kerr’s challenge is turning the work into sustainable preparation. More practice can help a player learn, but arriving at games with enough energy to execute matters, too.
The Warriors need Lendeborg to understand their system, respond to coaching and carry useful habits into competitive minutes. His eagerness gives the staff something to work with as training camp begins.
Lendeborg’s versatility creates a path to playing time
Golden State selected Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick in the draft. His size and ability to contribute in several areas have already made him a candidate for substantial minutes, with Kerr leaving his starting status open during camp.
That opportunity will depend on how well he complements the players around him.
Playing alongside Curry requires awareness away from the ball. A teammate must recognize when to screen, when to cut and when to move a pass quickly enough to preserve an advantage.
For Lendeborg, those decisions could be more valuable than trying to force his own scoring opportunities. Curry draws defensive attention that can create openings elsewhere, but teammates still have to identify and use them.
A forward who can handle the ball also gives an offense another way to continue a possession when its first action is stopped. Rather than immediately returning the ball to a guard, he can advance the play with a pass, drive or handoff.
That is a plausible route to early usefulness for Lendeborg. He can help established scorers while learning which opportunities are appropriate for him to attack.
Defensive execution will determine how much Kerr trusts him
The encouraging offensive possibilities do not eliminate the defensive work ahead.
Lendeborg has acknowledged that he needs to improve his understanding of defensive decisions, including when to switch screens. Those adjustments will matter as Golden State evaluates where he fits.
NBA possessions can punish a late recognition even when a player has the physical tools to recover. One missed exchange can leave a shooter open or force another defender to abandon his assignment.
For a rookie, learning those responsibilities involves more than memorizing terminology. He must recognize the action while it unfolds, communicate with teammates and respond at game speed.
His approach to preparation should help, provided he applies the instruction rather than simply accumulating repetitions.
The same standard applies to his offensive game. A productive night will not always require a large scoring total. Setting an effective screen, making the next pass and securing a rebound can help a lineup function.
Kerr’s praise is encouraging because it suggests Lendeborg wants to do the work required. It should not be treated as a guarantee that every part of his game is ready.
Training camp and preseason will show how quickly his enthusiasm becomes dependable execution. If he can make that transition, the Warriors will have a rookie who gives Kerr practical reasons to keep him on the floor.
