Yaxel Lendeborg is already giving the Golden State Warriors an offensive option they can build possessions around. Steve Kerr believes the rookie is doing it while still learning how NBA defenses operate.

With Stephen Curry and Draymond Green resting Sunday night, Lendeborg scored a career-high 37 points to lead Golden State to a 124-112 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at Chase Center.

Lendeborg made 13 of 19 shots, including six of 11 from 3-point range, and added six assists. The performance gave the Warriors their fourth consecutive victory and demonstrated how productive their offense can be with the rookie handling greater responsibility.

“I liked that he’s playing this way and he really doesn’t know the NBA game yet,” Kerr said.

Curry’s absence changed what Golden State needed from Lendeborg. Instead of primarily working alongside the Warriors’ established offensive centerpiece, the rookie had more opportunities to initiate possessions and create advantages himself.

Lendeborg said that adjustment requires him to embrace a mentality that does not always come naturally.

He wants to make the correct pass and involve teammates. When the offense runs through him, however, passing up a scoring opportunity can also mean passing up the advantage Golden State is trying to create.

“Whenever he’s not in the game, it’s kind of my opportunity to be a leader or be the main guy on the team,” Lendeborg said of Curry.

His six assists helped show the balance available within that role. Golden State could use his scoring threat to draw attention while allowing teammates to benefit from the resulting space.

Lendeborg’s ability to make 3-pointers off the dribble particularly impressed Kerr.

The Warriors had seen his shooting ability during his pre-draft workout. Sunday offered a stronger demonstration of how that skill could translate against NBA defenders.

At 6-foot-10, Lendeborg can get his shot above smaller opponents. Adding a pull-up threat also complicates how defenders approach him, because giving him room to protect against a drive can leave space for a jumper.

Lendeborg said he began experimenting with the shot at Michigan and hopes to develop it into a signature part of his game.

For Golden State, that possibility carries significance beyond one scoring total. A player who can shoot, attack and pass gives the offense several ways to respond to the same defensive coverage.

“You can play off of him,” Kerr said. “I thought everybody did a really good job of spreading the floor and executing for the most part.”

Kerr’s praise came with a clear explanation of where Lendeborg still needs to improve.

The rookie is learning to recognize defensive patterns, respond to double-teams and navigate pick-and-roll situations. Kerr also said substantial defensive work remains ahead.

Those areas will become increasingly important as opponents prepare more specifically for Lendeborg. Strong early performances give defenses reasons to change their approach, requiring the rookie to adjust in return.

Lendeborg identified another lesson himself after acknowledging that he forced opportunities while pursuing 40 points late in the game.

He said that approach moved him away from the efficient basketball he values and pledged to handle a similar situation better.

That self-assessment gave Golden State another encouraging takeaway. Lendeborg produced the best scoring performance of his young career while recognizing possessions he could have managed differently. His next challenge is to carry that awareness into the larger offensive role he is already beginning to earn.