Steve Kerr and Steph Curry’s message to Yaxel Lendeborg after his first preseason game was simple: be more aggressive.The Warriors rookie received the message, scoring a game-high 17 points on an efficient 7-of-11 shooting from the field in Golden State’s blowout preseason win Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Lendeborg, speaking with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike in a postgame interview, credited the veteran leadership of Curry and Draymond Green.
“After last game, I texted Steph and Draymond both to just ask for some advice and some guidance,” Lendeborg recalled. “I was a little scared first game to be aggressive. I was a little shell-shocked and all.
“But getting the word of advice from both of those guys telling me that they believe in me and I have room to make mistakes, just gave me the extra confidence I needed tonight.”
It’s hard to imagine a better motivator than two future Hall of Famers offering validation.
Lendeborg made the most of the gained confidence. He attacked the basket early and scored his first three field...