Yaxel Lendeborg feared his first big NBA moment might go badly. Instead, the Golden State Warriors rookie delivered a career-high 31 points, 12 rebounds and six assists to help his team beat the Denver Nuggets 134–114 on Monday. The 24-year-old forward admitted he was nervous before the game, but the support of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green helped him play with confidence. His performance also put him in rare company. According to Stathead, Lendeborg became only the second rookie in NBA history to record at least 30 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in fewer than 31 minutes, matching a feat achieved by Victor Wembanyama in 2024.
Yaxel Lendeborg Opens Up About His NBA Nerves After 31-Point Night
“I definitely thought I was gonna wet the bed,” Lendeborg said during an appearance on NBC’s NBA Showtime.
He added, “I definitely didn’t have the best hopes for what I was gonna do, but I mean, with the confidence that Steph and Draymond are, like, providing me, I’ve been playing with a lot more, like, you know, energy, confidence, like I said, and just going out there and having fun.”
The rookie backed up those words with a big performance. He shot 9-of-19 from the field and made 12 of his 13 free throws, giving Golden State another scoring option alongside Curry.
Lendeborg had also made headlines earlier in his career after a heated exchange with Luka Doncic during his NBA debut. Draymond Green backed the rookie’s willingness to compete against established stars, encouraging him to keep that confidence.
Curry was equally impressed with his young teammate’s game. “He’s just got composure and feel. He’s a matchup problem, but he’s never really in a hurry. Kind of the full package.”
Yaxel Lendeborg Joins Victor Wembanyama In NBA Rookie History
Lendeborg’s numbers stood out because he contributed in several areas rather than relying only on scoring. His 12 rebounds and six assists helped Golden State control the game against Denver.
The Warriors also needed a win after losing their first three games of the season. Curry finished with 24 points and made all eight of his field-goal attempts, including three three-pointers. He scored 17 points in the third quarter as Golden State pulled away.
Lendeborg’s performance gives him an early case to watch in the Rookie of the Year race, though the season is still young. Selected 11th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, he has already shown that he can contribute beyond scoring.
His next challenge is to maintain that level as opponents get more chances to study his game.
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