Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg joins Wilt Chamberlain club after career night vs. Clippers appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is already finding his name next to some of the greatest players in franchise history after a monster night against the Los Angeles Clippers.
The first-year forward erupted for a career-high 37 points in Golden State’s 124-112 win on Sunday night at Chase Center. Lendeborg was nearly unstoppable, shooting 13-of-19 from the field, 6-of-11 from three and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line while adding six assists, four rebounds and a steal in 34 minutes.
According to ESPN Insights, it was the most points by a Warriors rookie in a game since Stephen Curry dropped 42 in 2010.
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The big night also pushed Lendeborg into rare company. He is now averaging 22.3 points per game, making him just the third player in franchise history to average at least 20 points over his first seven career games. The only others to do it are Hall of Famers Wilt Chamberlain, who averaged 37.4 points in 1959-60, and Rick Barry, who put up 22.9 in 1965-66.
Lendeborg’s performance was even more impressive considering the circumstances. The Warriors played without both Curry and Draymond Green, leaving the rookie to shoulder much of the scoring load.
It was also a major bounce-back effort. Lendeborg struggled in Friday’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers, finishing with six points and five turnovers before fouling out in 24 minutes.
He had plenty of help on Sunday, too. De’Anthony Melton added 21 points on six 3-pointers, while Brandin Podziemski and Brandon Williams each chipped in 17. Golden State shot 53.5% from the field and knocked down 22 threes.
Rui Hachimura led the Clippers with 24 points, and Kobe Sanders added 16.
Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg joins Wilt
The Warriors selected Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft out of Michigan, where he averaged 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds last season. Some viewed his age as a drawback, as he entered the league at 24, but the Summer League MVP has been a polished contributor from day one.
The win was Golden State’s fourth straight, improving the Warriors to 4-3 after an 0-3 start. They will look to keep the momentum going when they host the Phoenix Suns on Monday.
Related: Warriors’ Yaxel Lendeborg advocates for ‘ethical hoops’ after career night
Related: Warriors’ Steve Kerr shares eye-opening reaction to Yaxel Lendeborg’s 37-point night
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