Where Warriors' Yaxel Lendeborg Ranks In Rookie Of The Year Race After Two Weeks

Where Warriors' Yaxel Lendeborg ranks in Rookie of the Year race after two weeks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Hype surrounded the 2026 NBA Draft class, and many top prospects are living up to the noise two weeks into their careers. Some of these names have been known throughout their high school days and college, but the pros is a whole new level of a leap. This isn’t summer league anymore, it’s the real deal. 

Every rookie goes through a learning curve. There will be highs and there will be lows. These special talents also are bringing exciting levels of optimism for their teams and finding themselves all over highlight reels. 

Who has stood out most? And where does Warriors No. 11 pick Yaxel Lendeborg fit in our first edition of Rookie Watch? Let’s take a look. 

All stats are current through Nov. 3.

5. Darryn Peterson, G, Utah Jazz 

Stats: 7 G, 13.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.3 spg 

The No. 1 pick, AJ Dybantsa, isn’t listed since he only has played three games. Peterson, the No. 2 pick, hasn’t exactly dominated to begin his career. But he’s starting to string together some solid games.

Peterson in his last game had three steals and three blocked shots, and has five straight games with at least one steal – including two three-steal games. After two single-digit games in his first three games, Peterson in his last four games is averaging 15.5 points while shooting 44 percent from three (11 of 25).

4. Darius Acuff Jr., PG, Sacramento Kings 

Stats: 7 G, 26.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 6.3 apg

There’s no doubt Acuff will go out and get his. Acuff leads all rookies in points and assists per game. He looks like a mixture of Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis and already has three 30-point games, five 20-point games and is averaging 7.4 assists over his last five games.

But his stats are devoid of wins and efficiency. Acuff scored 25 points on 21 shots to give the Kings their first win after losing their first six games. He leads the league in shots per game (23.6) and is shooting just 40.6 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from 3-point range. 

3. Caleb Wilson, PF, Chicago Bulls

Stats: 7 G, 21.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.0 spg, 1.3 bpg

It’s hard to be a minus-45 in 32-plus minutes, yet that’s what Wilson did in his NBA debut. He was a minus-20 in his most previous game and the Bulls are an ugly 1-6. His talent also is undeniable.

Wilson ranks second in points per game and third in rebounds per game, all while having the most steals (14) and second-most blocks (nine) among rookies.

2. Cameron Boozer, PF, Memphis Grizzlies 

Stats: 7 G, 17.7 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 5.6 apg

Boozer is much more a 1B than in second place here. Maybe he’s even a 1A-minus. Regardless, this debate comes down to Boozer and the talk of the town in the Bay Area.

Like Wilson, Boozer didn’t have a great debut, except he was a plus-32 in a win. Boozer has been a plus-45 on the season for the upstart Grizzlies and has a 2.9 box plus/minus. He was great against the Warriors in his second career game (25 points, 13 points and six assists), but he did have six turnovers and has three high-turnover games.

As a polished 19-year-old, Boozer is fifth in points per game for rookies, first in rebounds per game and second in assists per game. He’s shooting just 38.5 percent, but has a 37.2 3-point percentage.

1. Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Golden State Warriors 

Stats: 8 G, 21.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.9 apg, 

The rapid emergence of Lendeborg has completely shifted the Warriors’ outlook on the season. They came into the 2026-27 campaign with their backs against the wall already being down Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody and Kristaps Porziņģis. Lendeborg already has erased many of those sour feelings and brought a renewed sense of joy to the Warriors’ fanbase.

Combining his size, skill and feel for the game, Lendeborg has been a force offensively. He had one 30-point night in 112 games between UAB and Michigan and already dropped two of them in his first seven NBA games. Steph Curry has his co-star again, and he just happens to be a rookie. The Warriors’ rookie record books are becoming a revolving door of Curry, Lendeborg, Rick Barry and Wilt Chamberlain. 

Lendeborg has a chance to be the Warriors’ first Rookie of the Year since Chris Webber in 1993-94. The last three rookies to average 20 points and seven rebounds in a season were Victor Wembanyama, Luka Dončić and Joel Embiid, and Lendeborg would be the highest scorer among the four of them. 

Used as the Warriors’ second scoring option, and often even their first, Lendeborg is shooting 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep on more than six 3-point attempts per game. Lendeborg ranks third among rookies in points per game, second in rebounds per game and fifth in assists per game, plus he also has the third-most steals, and the most free throw attempts and makes.

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