Yaxel Lendeborg wasted no time showing Golden State fans why the Warriors were excited to draft him. In his first appearance in a Warriors uniform, the No. 11 pick scored 19 points in 22 minutes and did not miss a single shot, going 6 for 6 from the field, including 4 for 4 from three point range, as Golden State handled the Los Angeles Lakers 104-72 in the opening game of the California Classic at Chase Center on Friday.
The performance went well beyond scoring. Lendeborg added five rebounds, six assists, a steal and a block, giving fans a full look at the kind of two way, do everything game that made him a first round pick out of Michigan, where he helped lead the Wolverines to the 2026 NCAA championship. During his college career, he averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game, shooting 51.5% from the field and 37.2% from three.
Golden State’s offense hummed from start to finish
The Warriors as a team looked sharp throughout the night, finishing with 32 assists on 39 made field goals while shooting an efficient 62.9% from the floor. Golden State was especially deadly from beyond the arc, connecting on 16 of 26 three point attempts.
Lendeborg set the tone early, scoring 11 points in the first quarter alone on a perfect 4 for 4 shooting, including three threes, as he traded buckets with Lakers rookie Cameron Carr in a back and forth opening period. By halftime, Lendeborg had climbed to 16 points without missing a shot, and the Warriors carried a 57-33 lead into the break. Golden State never let up in the second half, stretching the lead to 34 points through three quarters as the Lakers shot just 36.5% for the game.
Second year guard Will Richard also had a strong night off Golden State’s bench, finishing with 16 points, while LJ Cryer and Chance McMillian each scored 12 and Malevy Leons and Graham Ike each added 11.
A humble rookie already looking ahead
Despite the eye popping stat line, Lendeborg was quick to point out where his game still needs work, particularly on the boards, acknowledging that he left rebounds on the table and will need to adjust to a more physical style of play at the NBA level. It’s a self awareness that has followed him throughout his development, as he has shifted over the past few years from a rebounding focused role into more of a scoring threat while still working to keep his playmaking sharp, an underrated part of his game that did not fully show up in Friday’s box score.
That versatility, along with the ability to stretch the floor, is exactly what Golden State’s coaching staff emphasized wanting to see heading into Summer League, along with a greater level of force and physicality in his overall game.
Carr keeps pace for the Lakers despite the loss
The Lakers did not go down without a fight from their own rookie. Cameron Carr, selected 24th overall, finished as Los Angeles’s leading scorer with 19 points, including five three pointers, and was the only Laker to reach double figures on a night when the rest of the roster struggled to find any offensive rhythm.
Golden State’s summer league roster also featured second round pick Lajae Jones, who scored his first career points during the third quarter, along with returning players Malevy Leons and Will Richard rounding out a deep and well balanced group.
What comes next
Both Lendeborg and the Warriors will look to build on the momentum when the California Classic continues Sunday, July 5, back at Chase Center. For a Golden State team looking to develop its young core, Friday’s debut offered an early and encouraging sign that its lottery pick may be ready to contribute sooner rather than later.
