Watch starstruck Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg ask NBA legends for advice

Watch starstruck Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg ask NBA legends for advice originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Through four games, Yaxel Lendeborg has been everything the Warriors could have asked for and more.

The 24-year-old rookie leads the team in minutes and rebounds per game, while ranking second in points and assists per game.

On Monday, Lendeborg led Golden State to its first win of the season in a 134-114 blowout against the Denver Nuggets.

His team-high 31 points set a new personal bar in his short NBA career, and he added 12 rebounds and six assists on the night.

After the game, Lendeborg was interviewed by a trio of NBA legends enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter and Carmelo Anthony.

While talking to the former NBA stars, Lendeborg was keen to ask for advice on how to improve his game.

“Lean on your vets, bro,” McGrady said. “You got two great Hall of Fame vets that (are) very intellectual in the game of basketball. So I would say lean on them as much as possible, man. Every day, just ask questions. You can never ask a dumb question, bro. Just lean on them two guys, and you’ll get a lot of information.”

Carter, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2024, told Lendeborg to use his age to his advantage.

“Utilize your youth,” Carter said. “You have a motor. Continue to play with joy, and ask those questions. Like you said, you don’t get comfortable in the game without asking questions. When you get the answers to the questions, you go out there; it’s easier to take the test, meaning play the game.”

Anthony emphasized leaning on the Warriors’ experienced vets to make an immediate impact.

“Get ahead of the film game,” Anthony said. “Stay in the film. Watch that film. Be a student of film and you have two guys on your team, in Draymond (Green) and Steph (Curry), who’ve been through this for so long, and they’ve been winning … so now you have an opportunity to just learn the in-between game and little nuances of the game that’s going to help you and help the Warriors.”

Lendeborg is one of only six players in the NBA to average at least 20 points (21.8), nine rebounds (9.3) and four assists per game (4.5), in company with three former MVPs and two All-Stars.

The Michigan alumnus also leads the Warriors with 7.8 free-throw attempts per game, an area where Golden State struggled last season, ranking 27th in the NBA as a team.

Before letting Lendeborg go, McGrady invoked a message from legendary San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

“He always said he wants to see some nasty,” McGrady said. “You’re coming in the league with that nasty. I love it. Do not lose that edge, bro.”

If the Warriors are to stay afloat until Jimmy Butler returns, they sure hope Lendeborg’s “nasty” will carry through the entirety of his rookie season.

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