Replacing Butler? Warriors' 11th Overall Pick Lendeborg's Role Revealed, Kerr Wants Him at

  • 来源: 24直播网

  After the Golden State Warriors missed the playoffs last season and landed in the lottery, there was speculation that the team would trade its 11th overall pick to acquire a veteran who could contribute immediately. However, the Warriors ultimately selected wing player Yaxel Lendeborg from the University of Michigan. With star players Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody sidelined for the start of the season due to injuries, head coach Steve Kerr revealed in a recent interview that the rookie will play a significant role for the team and could even take over the starting small forward spot directly.

  Replacing Butler's Spot: Kerr Wants Rookie at Starting No. 3 Spot

  The Warriors faced a tough injury test during the offseason. Butler suffered a torn ACL in January and is not expected back until mid-December at the earliest; Moody tore his patellar tendon in March. While he hopes to return to practice soon, it is highly unlikely he will be ready for the start of the season.

  Facing the absence of key players, head coach Kerr admitted in an interview with NBC Sports Bay Area that the team must work hard to win games early in the season to avoid falling behind. When it comes to the starting lineup, Kerr specifically named Lendeborg: "Our biggest task right now is deciding who will start and what the rotation will look like. Can Lendeborg play the 3 (small forward), let Draymond Green play the 4, and have Kristaps Porzingis or Al Jefferson man the 5 (center)? What would that lineup look like? We still have plenty of time to decide this."

  Valued for His Immediate Impact, Older Rookie Gets Warriors' Trust

  Unlike other lottery teams that focus on future prospects, the Warriors, who desperately need to "win now," selected older rookie Lendeborg, who will turn 24 this month. The versatile wing, who won a national championship in college, averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game for Michigan this season, with a 37.2% three-point shooting percentage. His mature skills and well-rounded stats are exactly why the Warriors targeted him in the draft. Kerr hopes he can not only contribute this season but also step directly into the starting lineup to fill the wing void left by Butler.

  Warriors Seek Cultural Reset, Emphasize Return to Fundamentals

  In addition to Lendeborg, the Warriors added veteran stretch big Georges Niang and dynamic point guard Brandon Williams this summer. Coupled with the young players' impressive performance in winning the summer league, Kerr is full of anticipation for the new season. Looking back on the disappointing season where the team won only 37 games last year, Kerr not only lamented the severe injury crisis but also took responsibility, saying the team has strayed from its core principles in recent years and must undergo a "reset" this year. Kerr emphasized: "For me, it's all about the process, about what we do every day. This season we must return to our values, our fundamentals, supporting each other, and maintaining high focus on the details of every day. It all starts with the coaching staff leading everyone through an excellent training camp."

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