Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg involved in injury scare during Lakers preseason game appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Golden State Warriors had a brief scare on Tuesday night when rookie Yaxel Lendeborg appeared to hurt his ankle during their preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Lendeborg turned his left ankle on a drive to the basket and was visibly hobbled afterward. He stayed in the game long enough to shoot his two free throws, but he was checked on right after and headed into the tunnel toward the locker room for further evaluation.
Given how the ankle looked, there was immediate concern that the 23-year-old would not return. Instead, it turned out to be a false alarm. Lendeborg was back on the floor shortly after, subbing back into the game following his quick trip to the locker room.
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He looked none the worse for wear, either. Lendeborg finished with 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including 6-of-9 from the free-throw line, to go with five rebounds, four assists and two steals in 26 minutes.
That avoided what could have been a significant setback for Golden State. The Warriors selected Lendeborg with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft after a decorated college career. He was a two-time AAC Defensive Player of the Year at UAB before transferring to Michigan, where he was named Big Ten Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American while helping the Wolverines win the national championship.
He has wasted little time making an impression in the preseason. In his home debut against the Lakers on Oct. 6, Lendeborg posted 17 points and nine rebounds while shooting 7-of-11 from the field in a 124-98 rout at Chase Center.
Tuesday’s rematch featured short-handed rosters on both sides. The Lakers rested Luka Doncic and were without Collin Sexton, Ziaire Williams, Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr, while Walker Kessler made his preseason debut after missing time with a finger injury. Golden State, meanwhile, played without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody.
Lendeborg has quickly become a big part of the Warriors’ plans, and his versatility has opened up new lineup options. Seeing him jog back onto the floor after the ankle tweak was a welcome sight for a team that is counting on him to make an immediate impact.
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