The Warriors are old, like old old, but there’s a young gun that’s looking to contribute early.
The Golden State Warriors know their championship window still revolves around Stephen Curry. But with Curry now 38, Draymond Green at 37, Al Horford at 39, Jimmy Butler recovering from a torn ACL at 36, and Kristaps Porzingis, 31, carrying his well-documented injury history, the franchise also knows it can’t afford to lean exclusively on its veteran core.
Even the possibility of adding LeBron James comes with the same reality. Pairing James with Curry would undoubtedly create one of the league’s most compelling duos, but James turns 42 in December. It would be another move aimed at maximizing the present, not securing the future.
That’s why rookie Yaxel Lendeborg’s impressive Summer League showing has been so encouraging. Selected 11th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, Lendeborg already looks like one of the steals of his class. The 24-year-old arrived in Golden State fresh off leading the Michigan Wolverines to the NCAA national championship, bringing with him the maturity and polish of a player who appears far more advanced than the typical rookie.
Through three Summer League games, Lendeborg has been one of the event’s standout performers, averaging 17.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists while shooting 60 percent from the field, including an impressive 9-of-13 clip from beyond the arc.
More than the numbers, though, it has been the way he has played. Lendeborg has been assertive on both ends of the floor, attacking scoring opportunities without hesitation while making smart reads as a playmaker. He has rarely looked overwhelmed, instead displaying the poise, confidence and feel of a player whose game is already ahead of the Summer League competition.
For a Warriors team desperately searching for youth, athleticism and durability, that is no small development. Golden State didn’t draft Lendeborg simply as a long-term project. Given the age and health concerns surrounding much of its roster, the Warriors need him to become an immediate contributor. His versatility, energy and two-way impact could fill an important role on a team that can no longer expect its veterans to shoulder every burden over an 82-game season.
The Warriors remain focused on chasing another championship while Curry is still playing at an elite level. But as their core grows older and staying healthy becomes an even greater challenge, Lendeborg’s emergence offers something equally valuable: hope that the franchise can compete today while beginning to build for tomorrow.
It’s still only Summer League, and expectations should remain measured. But if his early performances are any indication, the Warriors may have landed exactly what they needed – an NBA-ready rookie capable of helping immediately while also representing the future of the franchise.
