Warriors Summer League: Yaxel Lendeborg wows with perfect shooting night vs. Lakers

SAN FRANCISCO – With one acrobatic slam after another, Yaxel Lendeborg cut through the sleepy atmosphere blanketing the pregame layup lines, injecting some energy into a crowd that was waiting to watch the team’s first summer league game at Chase Center on Friday.

The Warriors drafted Lendeborg No. 11 overall 10 days prior to, in large part, bring that kind of athleticism and vertical pop to the position.

It took less than five minutes to showcase that the 23-year-old from Michigan also had the abundance of skill required to thrive next to Steph Curry for the real Warriors in an 104-72 victory.

Lendeborg splashed his first three triples in the first quarter, all made from the left corner off an assist. It was the kind of shot he will attempt in abundance during the regular season.

But Lendeborg’s incendiary first quarter involved more than just sweet shooting. He dished out a pair of assists from both the pick-and-roll and in the post, and used his strength to muscle up a layup.

Lendeborg finished the game with 19 points, five rebounds, six assists a block and one steal. The 6-foot-9 Lendeborg ended the night a perfect 6 of 6 from the floor, and displayed some high-quality shot selection.

Instead of forcing up attempts, a play-style that likely would’ve resulted in a 30-pont game against overmatched defenders, Lendeborg let the game come to him. Though he could have looked to attack in the pick-and-roll, Lendeborg was content to wait for the passing angle to open up.

The Warriors led 57-33 at halftime and seemed to get big games from just about everyone.

Will Richard scored 16 points, Vallejo native Chance McMillian put in 12 and LJ Cryer scored 12.

The Warriors will play host to San Antonio on Sunday at 4 p.m.

Leons brings energy

Earlier this week, Malevy Leons joked with reporters that his goal for summer league was to show coaches that he could shoot with his right hand. It was a not-so-subtle allusion to being forced to brick shots with is left while he dealt with an injured right wrist late last season.

The long-distance shooting with his dominant hand is still a work in progress for the Dutchman. But his energy and aptitude on the boards looked to be in midseason form. Playing against slower and less-experienced competition, the 26-year-old Leons dominated with his activity.

In 19 minutes, Leons grabbed two offensive rebounds, scored 11 points, had four assists and nabbed three steals.

Will Richard rocks

Will Richard put up 16 points, three rebounds and three steals in 21 minutes for the Warriors.

Impressive statistics that, in no way, fully conveyed how thoroughly the second-year guard out of Florida dominated the Lakers on Friday. He was a brick wall as a defender, stifling drives from Anton Watson or Adou Thiero or whatever ballhandler tried to get past him.

Offense looked even easier for Richard, who played in 69 games and scored in double figures 17 times last year. He made four 3-pointers and even creatively finished a couple times around the rim.

It was the kind of performance that a team would hope to see from a second-year rotation player in summer league, and Richard made sure they got it.

Lajae Jones is quiet

While Lendeborg was busy stuffing the statsheet, his fellow draftee had a tougher go of things. Jones was the No. 54 pick in the draft, and started his night with an airball from the corner.

The 6-7 wing eventually began to make a few plays in the second half, his best play being a nifty pass to Lachlan Olbrich for a layup. Jones also rebounded from his making his next 3-pointer, his only points of the game.