Yaxel Lendeborg goes for 31/12/6 vs. Denver

In the first week of the 2026-27 season, Lendeborg has been among the NBA’s most productive rookies. After recording his first double-double in Friday’s loss to the Grizzlies, the Warriors forward notched his first 20-point game on Saturday. Lendeborg shot 6-of-11 from three, and his 19 shot attempts were the most on the team. Golden State didn’t have Stephen Curry, Draymond Green or Brandin Podziemski on Saturday, which opened things up for Lendeborg. However, the first two games showed that he’ll have a prominent role even when those key veterans are available.

After a much-discussed debut in the Warriors’ loss to the Lakers on Wednesday, Lendeborg recorded his first career double-double on Friday. The rookie’s final stat line lacked only a blocked shot, but he has all the makings of a player who will offer consistent value in fantasy basketball. Stephen Curry (ankle) is not expected to play in Saturday’s game against the Suns, and Brandin Podziemski (back) has already been ruled out. If Lendeborg is sitting on your league’s waiver wire, don’t hesitate to pick him up.

Coach Steve Kerr trusted Yaxel immediately in the starting lineup and showed that that trust was warranted. He was tasked with guarding Luka Doncic and did about as well as you could for your first game in the NBA. Now, the talking might get him in trouble at times, but he should still be a big part of this rotation moving forward.

With Kristaps Porzingis (illness) sidelined, the Warriors will have to rely on Draymond Green and Al Horford at center, offering rookie Yaxel Lendeborg the opportunity to see significant minutes right out of the gate. On the other side of the court, Walker Kessler could be in for a huge night against Golden State’s shorthanded and undersized frontcourt rotation.

As in Summer League, Lendeborg showed throughout the preseason that he’s ready to contribute immediately. Given the Warriors’ injury report, they’ll need the rookie forward to do that if they’re to be a factor in the West. He recorded a complete stat line in Friday’s preseason finale and appears to have already established good chemistry with the Warriors’ veterans, especially Al Horford. Using a top-100 pick on Lendeborg wouldn’t be a reach, given his likely role as a starter.

Porziņǵis, who has struggled with health issues for the last two seasons, missed Golden State’s first five preseason games due to what the Warriors describe as a “health-related matter.” He’ll remain sidelined indefinitely, giving Gui Santos and Yaxel Lendeborg more opportunities in the frontcourt. Both appear on track to start the regular season, with Lendeborg offering higher fantasy upside. Al Horford is expected to be limited to 20 minutes, so he offers little fantasy value. As for Porziņǵis, fantasy managers should avoid drafting him, especially in standard leagues.

Lendeborg’s strong preseason continued in this game, though it is worth noting that he tweaked his left ankle in the third quarter. He shot his free throws before exiting and wasn’t limping and was able to return to the game. There’s no reason to think it will impact his status for opening night, where he should be part of the Warriors’ starting unit.

Hopefully this will provide more clarity as to when Porziņģis will be available to suit up. As of now, Steve Kerr said he is “leaning towards” starting Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Yaxel Lendeborg and Draymond Green on opening night. Whenever he gets healthy, Porziņģis will be a significant piece in the Warriors’ rotation.

Simply put, Lendeborg was the best player on the floor during the first half of Saturday’s game. The lottery pick out of Michigan recorded 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists and one steal in 15 minutes. Performances like this show why Lendeborg can make an immediate impact, and he’s worth selecting in 12-team drafts. With the Warriors unsure when Jimmy Butler III or Moses Moody will return from their knee injuries, Lendeborg appears on track to begin his rookie campaign as a starter.

Butler said during Warriors media day that his testing numbers are “off the charts” and he’s ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn right ACL. However, the Warriors are exercising caution with the veteran wing’s recovery, as he has not been cleared to go full speed or participate in contact drills. While Butler won’t be available to help fantasy managers immediately, he’s worth stashing with a late-round pick in standard leagues. His and Moses Moody’s (knee) absences likely free up additional minutes for lottery pick Yaxel Lendeborg, who the Warriors will need to contribute immediately, whether he starts or comes off the bench.