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Steve Kerr says he has spotted something 'extremely rare' about Yaxel Lendeborg
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- Steve Kerr says he has spotted something 'extremely rare' about Yaxel Lendeborg
Photo by Godofredo A. Vásquez/Getty Images
Yaxel Lendeborg has been one of the rising stars in the NBA this season.
The 24-year-old has been really impressive for the Golden State Warriors and was their best player in their win against the Denver Nuggets.
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Warriors coach Steve Kerr is beyond impressed with how his rookie forward has fared, especially this early in his NBA career.
Steve Kerr says what Yaxel Lendeborg is doing for the Warriors is 'extremely rare'
Almost every rookie player needs some time to adapt to the NBA, but for Lendeborg, it has looked easy, at least from the outside.
The forward has become just the fourth player in the NBA's draft lottery era to record 85+ points and 35+ rebounds in his first four career games.
Lendeborg is the absolute favourite to win the Rookie of the Year award at the moment, and Kerr has showered praise on him.
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Following the Golden State Warriors' win over the Denver Nuggets, the head coach said: "He has been good from the start offensively. You can see he's still a little out of control on some plays.
"When he learns to kind of take an extra dribble as he attacks the big and slows down – he had one in the first half where he slowed down in transition and did a little Euro step and laid it in, and we're going to see more and more of that.
"But no, he's strong as an ox and skilled, and the way the game is played, he's going to be able to get to the line a ton.
"And you saw it tonight. I mean, 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, but it's exciting because I think he's going to get a lot better too."
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Lendeborg is nowhere near the finished product, but the early signs have shown that he is a player with humongous potential. He has what it takes to become a future superstar.
Kerr is right; these sorts of performances are very rare to see from a rookie in his first four games, but that is again proof that the Warriors have a gem in their hands.
It now remains to be seen how Lendeborg will develop in the coming seasons.
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