Lendeborg Has to Be the Warriors' Hub, Not Just Curry's Sidekick
The rookie forward is the cheapest real production on an expensive roster, and he should be judged on how much of the offense he connects, not how many shots he takes.
Through four games Lendeborg leads Golden State in minutes and rebounding and trails only Curry in scoring, all on a $6.1M salary. With Butler, Porzingis and Moody sidelined into December or later, the rookie has to carry the connecting work that veterans used to share.
What the line actually says
Across four games he has put up 21.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, with 4.8 assists, in 33.3 minutes, the heaviest workload on the team. Most readings stop there. The better numbers sit underneath: a 23.5% assist rate and a 14.2% rebound rate from a forward, plus 59.1% true shooting on 24.6% usage. He ends possessions efficiently and starts plenty of others. Only Green, at 7.0 assists, sets up more teammates, and Green is scoring 3.3 points.
Why the Warriors need a hub right now
Butler is out with a right knee issue and an estimated return of January 2, 2027. Porzingis (illness) and Moody (left knee) both carry December 1 estimates. That takes out a second creator, a stretch big and a wing shooter in one stroke. Curry has played 25.8 minutes per game over his three appearances. This team needs someone under 30 who can grab the rebound, push the ball and make the next read so Curry isn't forced to create every possession. The 134-114 win in Denver, with 31 points and 12 rebounds from Lendeborg, was the clearest picture of that shape.
Where the flaw sits
He takes 6.5 threes per game and makes 34.6% of them. That is a floor-spacer's volume with the accuracy of a player still finding his shot. If defenders can sag off him, the passing lanes close and his playmaking shrinks with them. The 2.8 turnovers are the cost of handling the ball this much. The defense is more encouraging. His 115.6 defensive rating is well below the team's 121.1, and his -0.9 net rating beats the team's -3.8 on a roster that has lost three of four.
The verdict
On a $219.8M payroll above the first apron, with Curry at $62.6M and Butler at $56.8M, a 24-year-old earning $6.1M is the best value the front office has. He stays under $7M through 2028-29 before rising to $8.9M in 2029-30. The Athletic has asked whether he makes the Warriors' second timeline possible. That only happens if he becomes the hub. NBC Sports Bay Area's Dalton Johnson reported he is questionable in Minnesota with left foot inflammation, against a Timberwolves team without Anthony Edwards. When he plays, the job is the same: keep the assist rate, make enough threes to keep defenders honest, and stay the forward the defense holds up better with.
Is Yaxel Lendeborg playing against the Timberwolves?
He is listed with a foot issue. NBC Sports Bay Area's Dalton Johnson reported that he is questionable in Minnesota with left foot inflammation.
How much is Yaxel Lendeborg's contract worth?
He earns $6.1M in 2026-27, then $6.4M in 2027-28 and $6.7M in 2028-29, before rising to $8.9M in 2029-30.
