{
  "id": 11429602,
  "title": "Yaxel Lendeborg reveals the rookie duty given to him by Warriors veterans",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/yaxel-lendeborg-reveals-the-rookie-duty-given-to-him-by-warriors",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-02T11:34:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/yaxel-lendeborg-reveals-rookie-duty-113438876.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Golden State Warriors' 11th overall draft pick, Yaxel Lendeborg, has already begun fulfilling rookie responsibilities at the request of the team's veterans. Following his National Championship win with Michigan, Lendeborg has impressed Golden State Warriors head coach and players alike, earning a starting role in the first preseason game alongside Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Brandon Podziemski, and Al Horford.\n\nDespite the potential for rookie hazing, Lendeborg has not divulged the specific tasks he has been assigned. However, he revealed that he had called Steph Curry and Draymond Green, showing his willingness to embrace the rookie duty. The 24-year-old player expressed that he was nervous to call these veterans, but they both answered. Yaxel brought the items he needed to the team bus and was even handed a large speaker by Draymond Green, which he must now carry with him.\n\nLendeborg has developed a solid relationship with Green, engaging in playful banter as both players attended Michigan. Before training camp commenced, Green had warned Lendeborg about the Warriors' potential rookie hazing, a practice that Lendeborg now appears to have endured without issue. However, it is his impressive performances in practice that demonstrate the positive impact of veteran leadership on his rookie season. With a long injury list on the Warriors, the first-round rookie will need to step up if they hope to remain competitive for the upcoming season.",
  "summary": "Golden State Warriors’ 11th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft is already on duty, fulfilling rookie responsibilities at his veterans request. After winning the National Championship with Michigan, Yaxel Lendeborg comes into the league with a lot of hype and has already made a great impression on the Golden State Warriors‘ head coach and players.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Why Yaxel Lendeborg believes Brandin Podziemski is an ‘elite scorer,' and more from Warriors practice",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/why-yaxel-lendeborg-believes-brandin-podziemski-is-an-elite-scorer",
        "published": "2026-10-02T04:09:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}