Oct 10, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg (1) reacts after a three point basket during the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images
Oct 10, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg (1) reacts after a three point basket during the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images
Former Warriors player DeMarcus Cousins recently recorded an episode of the ‘Run It Back’ show, where he explained why he ranks Golden State rookie Yaxel Lendeborg among his favorites for Rookie of the Year in 2026-27.
“I think Yaxel has a chance at being Rookie of the Year this year. Darius Acuff is the lead candidate for me, but after him, I’m going with Yaxel, with the ability to shoot the ball, put it on the floor, rebound, and get to the basket,” Cousins explained.
“This kid has a lot of talent that hasn’t really been showcased yet, and I think it will continue to show as the season goes on. So, I’m really high on this kid. I think he’s going to be a household name by the end of the season. If everybody is healthy, I do think [the Warriors] have a chance of getting into the playoffs,” the former Warriors player further added.
Cousins has completely discounted top picks like AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer and has jumped straight to Yaxel Lendeborg and Darius Acuff Jr. as Rookie of the Year favorites.
To be fair, Dybantsa and Peterson joined teams with other star players ahead of them, as the potential faces of their respective teams. Meanwhile, players like Cam Boozer, Darius Acuff Jr., and Yaxel Lendeborg are being groomed as their franchises’ future faces.
As a result, these players will have more opportunities to showcase their talents during their rookie season. Yaxel Lendeborg has already earned a starting spot on a roster that is looking for a reliable second scoring option behind Stephen Curry. The 6’9″ Warriors forward has a 7’3″ wingspan, which can prove pivotal to being a solid inside-outside threat for the Warriors on both ends of the floor.
Unlike the traditional center, Lendeborg can also guard the perimeter and use his wingspan to block shots. He can also help the Warriors exploit the gaps that open when defenses space out to stop Stephen Curry.
In the preseason, Yaxel Lendeborg averaged 15.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, shooting 56.9% from the field and 43.8% from three-point range in less than 24 minutes played per game. If you adjust those statistics for regular season minutes, Lendeborg could easily average over 20.0 points.
This shows a lot of promise for what Lendeborg could bring to the Warriors in the 2026-27 season. The 24-year-old rookie will start at center on opening night against the Lakers the day after tomorrow (October 21). All eyes will be on him to see if he actually lives up to that promise.
Former NBA Players Praise Yaxel Lendeborg
Not just DeMarcus Cousins, but former NBA players Matt Barnes and Kevin Garnett have also been very impressed with what they have seen from Yaxel Lendeborg so far.
“I like Yaxel, f*cking killer, big kid, not afraid of the moment, a s–t talker. He made a post today with a picture of him giving Draymond a high five, and he called him like ‘Granddaddy’ or something, so not afraid of the moment, big s–t talker. One of those kids that stayed in college; I think he’s 23 or 24 now as a rookie, so he’s ready to go. I really like him,” Barnes said in a recent appearance on All the Smoke podcast.
“Given the kid from Michigan, I love him. I think he’s going to be the 1st part of the rebuilding of having young pieces in there. That kid, actually, you can give him the ball, and he can get some money, bro. He got that star game… He’s strong,” Kevin Garnett said on an episode of the KG Certified podcast.
“I don’t know if everybody understands; I think he’s a little older than everybody too. He’s a little more mature. He bounced around a little bit, but he has a mature game. I think what they wanted with Wiseman and Kuminga, they’re getting with this kid because this kid has a throttle, but he’s low throttle. He doesn’t seem like he has an ego,” Garnett concluded.
With DeMarcus Cousins, Matt Barnes, and Kevin Garnett backing Yaxel Lendeborg, expectations for the Warriors rookie are steadily rising. His versatility, maturity, and preseason performance suggest he could make an immediate impact.
However, Lendeborg must translate that promise into consistent regular-season performances to establish himself in the Rookie of the Year race. Do you think Lendeborg will win the Rookie of the Year? Let us know what you think in the comments section.
Chaitanya Dadhwal is an NBA Analyst and Columnist at Fadeaway World, based in New Delhi, India. His passion for basketball began in 2018 after watching James Harden during his prime, eventually leading him to pursue a career in sports journalism in 2021. He began writing professionally while completing his law degree at Jindal Global Law School in Sonipat, India, where he graduated in 2022 and developed a particular interest in Sports Law. Chaitanya ultimately chose journalism over a career in law after realizing that his passion for sports, and basketball in particular, was where he wanted to build his career. His work focuses on breaking down complex NBA storylines, analyzing player and team decisions, and presenting different sides of an argument to provide readers with a balanced perspective. While he strives to maintain an objective approach in his journalism, Chaitanya openly admits to being a passionate supporter of the Houston Rockets and Arsenal. That combination of analytical thinking and personal passion allows him to simplify complex ideas and present them in an accessible way for basketball fans. Beyond journalism, Chaitanya hopes to establish his own sports management agency and represent athletes. His long-term goal is to help create greater equality of opportunity for athletes across different sports and genders, using his legal background and experience in sports media to help bridge gaps within the industry.