After Yaxel Lendeborg decided to start a war of words with Luka Dončić both during and after his first NBA game last week --more or less calling one of the best players in the world a crybaby for whom he "lost all respect" -- both Stephen Curry and Steve Kerr remarked that they were fine with the don't-give-a-damn brashness of the Warriors' rookie. Curry and Kerr even said that they liked it, but with the caveat that he would, of course, have to "back it up." How's that going so far? Well, put it this way: If Lendeborg keeps playing like this, the only other thing he's going to have to back up is a Brinks truck to collect his next contract.
Through his first five games, the No. 11 overall pick is averaging 22.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and four assists. Those are not just All-Star numbers. Those are historic numbers.
Let's start with the basics: Lendeborg is the first Warriors rookie since Stephen Curry to score at least 25 points in three straight games. That's more of a footnote considering Golden State's many draft whiffs over the last 15 years, but still, this is no easy feat over any three-game rookie stint, let alone inside the first two weeks of your career. Players to record at least: 100 PTS, 40 REB, 20 AST in their first five career games:— Larry Bird— Yaxel LendeborgThat’s it.
That’s the list. pic.twitter.com/chE6N6kE1v Putting up these kinds of numbers can only happen, one, if you've got the game, but two, and in the context of the Warriors this may be the even more important part, if you're given the opportunity to do so. Maybe it's because he's an old rookie. Spent six years in college.
Started at a junior college. Grinded through every level and has the maturiity in both game and mind to show for it. This is important, because it would be easy to classify Lendeborg as immature for all his spouting off, but much like Draymond, listen to what he's actually saying rather than how or to whom he's saying it.
Before you go off in judgment of a man with an opinion, understand that he's earned his maturity in ways that, frankly, a guy like Dončić hasn't. Luka was a prodigy from Day 1, and was treated as such. That isn't a shot at Luka.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
