Doubts about the Golden State Warriors’ 2026-27 season are many (and well-founded). Yet Steve Kerr does not stop sending messages of optimism, the most recent concerning the acquisition of Yaxel Lendeborg through the draft.
Far from falling back on the classic “patience, he still has a lot to learn,” the San Francisco coach shows such confidence in what the 11th pick of the latest draft can do that he describes him as: “He is the most NBA-ready rookie I’ve ever had.”
It isn’t a statement made in the wind. Kerr, who renewed his contract in the summer for two seasons with the California franchise, explains in detail why his rookie is so good.
“I think the area he should emphasize most is understanding defense. Offensively he already has tremendous instinct. He has something very natural in the way he moves the ball and makes the right decision without us having to teach him. That will quickly earn him the trust of his teammates,” he says before turning the focus to the aforementioned defense.
“There are many plays in the NBA that you don’t see in college. You have to know the players you face every night. If you switch abruptly, you could end up defending point guards, centers, wings… You must understand rotations from every position. It will take time, and that’s what we’re working on with him,” he clarifies.
Steve Kerr and a 24-year-old Yaxel Lendeborg
As is natural, the Warriors’ coach does not overlook the fact that he is dealing with an experienced player, since at 24 years old he has gone through numerous situations to reach the American professional competition.
“He is 24 years old. He competed for the national title with Michigan. He already possesses a lot of basketball maturity. And yes, he is, one hundred percent, the most NBA-ready rookie I’ve had since I’ve been coaching the Warriors. He wasn’t a five-star project. He had to fight to get here and truly values the opportunity he has. He wants to be coached, wants to do things correctly. His approach is excellent,” he concludes.
