Yaxel Lendeborg Leads Warriors Past Nuggets With Historic Rookie Performance

Rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg delivered a historic performance on Monday night, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 134-114 victory over the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. The win marked the first of the season for the Warriors after dropping their opening three games.

Lendeborg played 31 minutes and finished with a game-high 31 points, shooting 9-of-19 from the field and 12-of-13 from the free-throw line. He added 12 rebounds and six assists, anchoring the team alongside veteran Stephen Curry, who contributed 24 points on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting night.

According to league data, Lendeborg became only the second rookie in NBA history to record at least 30 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists in under 31 minutes of play. The only other player to achieve the feat was Victor Wembanyama in March 2024. Additionally, he became the first Warriors rookie since Curry in February 2010 to tally at least 30 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a single game.

The 24-year-old newcomer helped the Warriors pull away after Curry and Draymond Green went to the bench late in the third quarter. Golden State outscored Denver 47-37 down the stretch, with Lendeborg taking control of the offense during critical moments.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr praised the rookie's poise and advanced feel for the game, comparing his ability to draw fouls and slow the pace to Jimmy Butler. "Basically, in all the critical moments of the game, we just put the ball in his hands, and for a rookie to be that advanced already, it's extremely rare," Kerr told reporters.

Curry echoed those sentiments after the final buzzer, describing the former Michigan standout as the full package. "His composure. I mean, he just came off an NCAA Championship run and he's just got composure and feel," Curry said. "His size on the court, he's a matchup problem. He's never really in a hurry and he's starting to see the picture really well."

Lendeborg's strong start follows a notable debut week that included a heated exchange with Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic. Despite questions from critics regarding his age and transition to the professional level, the No. 11 pick is averaging 21.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists through his first four games.

While acknowledging that Lendeborg still makes defensive and offensive mistakes that require coaching, Kerr emphasized that the rookie's ceiling remains exceptionally high. The Warriors will look to build on their momentum when they face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.