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Where Warriors' first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg wants to improve before start of NBA training camp On 'Dubs Talk,' Warriors first-round pick Yaxel Lendeborg explained how wants to improve this summer before Golden State begins training camp.
Dubs Talk hosts Bonta Hill and Monte Poole sit down with Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy to discuss Golden States expectations for Jimmy Butler.was one of the best players in college basketball last season as a consensus All-American and the leading scorer for national champion Michigan.
But that doesn't mean he's not eager and willing to improve as he prepares for his rookie season, as he explained to NBC Sports Bay Area's Bonta Hill and Monte Poole on a new episode of"Dubs Talk." Poole asked Lendeborg about what he's looking to work on this summer before Warriors training camp begins in late September or early October.
"Just the defensive versatility thing, being able to guard multiple positions, being able to be just dependent on myself to guard, too, and not worry about kind of help.
Like, I want to be able to guard my ," Lendeborg explained."And then just the quality of my shots -- like, not taking those dumb shots.
I know I'm not going to be the guy taking the shots like Steph , because there's no dumb shot by Steph, you know.
So I'm gonna just be over there sitting, catching, shooting threes wide open.
If it's not open, maybe do a rip drive or something, you know.Just a simple game, but definitely those two things for sure."And then just being able to always stay in the stance.
That's what Coach Kerr told me.
Just stay in the stance, always be ready on defense off-ball and just being able and ready to make a play." After all, Golden State doesn't need Lendeborg to do too much right away.
As the 6-foot-9 forward noted, his primary tasks during his rookie season will be to defend his position well and serve as a modest, but effective complement to Curry on offense.Lendeborg's apparent willingness to accept that secondary role should be a good sign for Kerr and the Warriors, who likely will rely a lot on their first-round pick right away given the long-term injuries suffered by key wings Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody.