Golden State lost 131-122 to the Phoenix Suns, even as rookie Yaxel Lendeborg keeps turning heads with his early production.
The Golden State Warriors dropped to 0-3 on the season after a 131-122 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night. The defeat continues a rough start for a team still searching for its first win, but the bigger storyline inside the building has been rookie Yaxel Lendeborg.
Steve Kerr didn't hold back afterward, pointing out areas where Lendeborg still needs to grow. It's a blunt reality check for a 24-year-old just three games into his career, though Kerr and his teammates have also praised him throughout the preseason and into the regular season.
The numbers explain why Lendeborg is already drawing this level of attention. Through three games he's averaging 18.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists, production that would be notable for any rookie, let alone one who also stirred things up with trash talk aimed at Luka Doncic in his debut. Kerr has called him fearless, huge, and full of skill, even while flagging the rough edges.
For now, Lendeborg is the rare bright spot on a winless roster, carrying both the production and the scrutiny that comes with it. The Warriors will need more than one rookie's flashes to turn the record around.