newsweek
In the aftermath of the Houston Rockets' 115-108 triumph over the Golden State Warriors on November 11, Kevin Durant offered high praise for Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, labeling him a different level of athlete. The defeat snapped Golden State's eight-game winning streak, but Lendeborg's standout performance—25 points and 10 rebounds—stood out, especially after Stephen Curry exited in the first quarter due to abdominal soreness.
Durant's commendation carries weight, coming from a 15-time NBA All-Star with nearly two decades of league experience. He had a close-up view of Lendeborg, who guarded him as early as the first quarter. After his own 20-point, 4-rebound, 5-assist outing, Durant elaborated on what impressed him.
I love his game, Durant said. He's a skilled big that can play 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 on the offensive side of the ball. He can shoot it. He can handle it. He's strong, long, and athletic. That right there shows you he's a different level of athlete. A winner. He won in college. He's been through a lot of adversity. He came here fully grown, and he's ready for anything that's thrown at him. It was fun to play against him.
Lendeborg's statistics back up Durant's enthusiasm. Through 12 games, the rookie is putting up 21.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while logging 32.2 minutes per night. Before facing Houston, he had averaged 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4 assists across 11 career games, shooting 52.3% from the field and 44.3% from beyond the arc.
Golden State, a team in win-now mode with Curry and Draymond Green chasing another title, isn't positioned to wait years for a prospect to develop. Lendeborg's maturity has allowed him to seamlessly integrate into a contending rotation without showing fear.
Alperen Sengun earned player of the game honors for Houston, finishing with 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting, along with 13 rebounds and 9 assists—just one point behind Durant. Lendeborg also recorded 2 steals, but all of his 25 points came before the fourth quarter. Houston adjusted its coverage in the final period, and a Warriors team without Curry struggled to find alternative scoring as the margin tightened.
Key Analysis
The challenge for Lendeborg now is to maintain productivity once defenses adjust, and Houston may have provided a blueprint for future opponents. Durant, however, has seen enough to be convinced of the rookie's potential.
Originally reported by newsweek.