Warriors owner Joe Lacob ecstatic with early Yaxel Lendeborg returns
After just two weeks, Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob is already convinced the team nailed its drafting of 24-year-old wing Yaxel Lendeborg.
"Some teams never get it right, and we got this one right," Lacob told 95.7 The Game on Monday. "I was 100% sold that this was the guy we wanted in the draft."
Lendeborg,who was selected by the Warriors with the 11th pick this year, has exploded onto the scene, averaging 21.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists over his first eight NBA games. He had a 37-point breakout performance Sunday night, leading the Warriors to a win over the LA Clippers without the resting Steph Curry.
"NBA general managers just love their 18- and 19-year-olds," Lacob told the radio station. "We've all been guilty. There are some great upsides on these guys. But this guy seemed like a champion and ready to play. Everything we thought he could be he's come in and exceeded that. He's surprised Steve [Kerr] for sure. He doesn't have any weaknesses."
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The Warriors have won five straight games after opening the season 0-3. Lendeborg gives them a young talent on a cheap rookie deal and appears to be a lottery hit after two of their most recent lottery picks -- James Wiseman at No. 2 overall in 2020 and Jonathan Kuminga at No. 7 overall in 2021 -- are no longer on the roster.
"We've made our mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes," Lacob said. "We didn't get the draft exactly right or maybe we didn't get the development right on a couple other higher draft choices in the past. Fine. Criticize us for that. But the draft is hard, guys."br/]
