Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg has made a historic start to his NBA career, averaging remarkable numbers through his first seven games. In Sunday's game against the Clippers, he scored 37 points on 85% true shooting, hitting six of 11 three-pointers and adding six assists.
However, with the Warriors leading by 21 points late in the fourth quarter, Lendeborg began forcing shots in pursuit of the 40-point milestone. He missed three three-pointers, two of them ill-advised, as the Clippers rallied to cut the deficit to eight points in two minutes. Coach Steve Kerr benched him with 2:14 remaining, explaining that the team lost rhythm when bench players urged Lendeborg to keep shooting. "He would've had 40 if we had just kept playing normally," Kerr said. "The lesson is to stay in the flow of the game."
After Lendeborg left the floor, De'Anthony Melton hit back-to-back three-pointers to seal the victory, extending the Warriors' winning streak to four games following an 0-3 start. Lendeborg acknowledged the mistake, saying he fell into peer pressure from teammates, including Melton and Will Richards, who encouraged him to reach 40 points. "I've never been a stat chaser... I love ethical hoops," Lendeborg said. "Next time I'll just play in the flow."
