Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg was benched late in a game against the Clippers after giving in to teammate peer pressure while chasing a 40-point milestone. Lendeborg has been putting up historic numbers to open his NBA career, playing an exceptional game on Sunday before the incident occurred. Head coach Steve Kerr removed the rookie with 2.14 remaining in the matchup.
A Historic Start and Sunday's Dominant Performance
Through his first seven games, Yaxel Lendeborg has kept one-upping himself with remarkable performances. On Sunday, he delivered his best game yet by scoring 37 points on 85% true shooting. He sank six of his 11 3-pointers and dished out six assists. Aside from a previous game against the Lakers where he struggled, it has been nothing but high-scoring production for the rookie.
However, holding a comfortable 21-point lead late in the contest changed the dynamic on the floor. With the round number of 40 points within reach, the rookie began launching questionable shots.
The Peer Pressure and Steve Kerr's Decision
As the clock wound down, teammates on the bench started yelling at Yaxel Lendeborg to get 40 points. Teammates like De'Anthony Melton and Will Richards urged him to keep shooting.
- De'Anthony Melton told him he needed just three more points and held the ball to feed him.
- Will Richards also joined in, telling him he had to do it.
- Steve Kerr observed the sequence as the Clippers put together a desperate run.
The Clippers quickly trimmed a 21-point deficit down to eight over a span of two minutes while Lendeborg missed three 3-pointers. Steve Kerr decided to step in.
"The game changed when all the guys on the bench were yelling at Yax to get 40," Steve Kerr said after the game. "He launched three kind of bad shots."
Returning to Flow and Taking Accountability
As soon as Yaxel Lendeborg went to the bench, the Warriors regained their composure. De'Anthony Melton buried back-to-back 3-pointers to put the game back on ice, securing a four-game winning streak for Golden State after an 0-3 start.
Yaxel Lendeborg took full accountability for his actions after the final buzzer, admitting he fell into the trap of stat-chasing.
"I've never been a stat chaser in my life," Yaxel Lendeborg said. "So, I mean, just falling into peer pressure like I did just now was pretty much bad on my part. Especially just, I'm a guy that loves, like, ethical hoops."
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Yaxel Lendeborg benched against the Clippers?
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr benched the rookie with 2:14 remaining because he started taking questionable 3-point shots while chasing 40 points, allowing the Clippers to cut a 21-point lead down to eight.
Who peer pressured Yaxel Lendeborg into chasing 40 points?
Teammates De'Anthony Melton and Will Richards urged him from the bench and floor to get the remaining points, with De'Anthony Melton even holding the ball specifically to pass it to him.
What did Yaxel Lendeborg say about the incident?
He admitted that he fell into peer pressure and noted that he prefers "ethical hoops" and efficient basketball, vowing to just play in the flow of the game next time.