Yaxel Lendeborg earns Jayson Tatum, Paul George comparison from ClutchPoints insider

Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg has emerged as one of the top rookies of the class of 2026. Lendeborg has been thrust into a key role on a Golden State Warriors team with Jimmy Butler, who is still out rehabbing a torn right ACL. He's also become a secondary scoring option alongside Stephen Curry, who's also dealt with injury concerns early in the season.

In the Warriors' 124-112 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, Lindemans finished with 37 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal while shooting 6-for-11 from three in 34 minutes. His level of play, and specifically a late-second-quarter post-up fadeaway, reminded ClutchPoints senior NBA reporter Brett Siegel of two NBA stars.

"We will see as the season and his career goes on, but there's a lot of college Jayson Tatum and younger Paul George in Yaxel Lendeborg seven games into his NBA career," Lendeborg said.

In post-game comments last week, after the team's victory over the Denver Nuggets, Steve Kerr praised Lendeborg highly.

"He's been good from the start offensively. You can see he's still a little out of control on some plays. When he learns to take an extra dribble as he attacks the big and slows down, he had one in the first half where he slowed down in transition, did a little euro step, and laid it in. We're going to see more and more of that," Kerr said.

He also committed his strength, saying that he's "strong as an ox."

"He's been good from the start offensively. You can see he's still a little out of control on some plays. When he learns to take an extra dribble as he attacks the big and slows down, he had one in the first half where he slowed down in transition, did a little euro step, and laid it in. We're going to see more and more of that."