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Steve Kerr Sends Strong Message to Warriors Rookie After Preseason Debut Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has challenged rookie Yaxel Lendeborg to become more aggressive after the 2026 first-round pick made his preseason debut against the Los Angeles Clippers. Lendeborg started the game in Honolulu and finished with four points, nine rebounds, three assists and one block in 19 minutes. He shot just 1-for-6 from the field, but his rebounding and all-around contribution still provided some encouraging signs in his first NBA appearance. The Warriors eventually suffered a narrow 104-101 defeat, but Kerr's main concern was not the rookie's scoring numbers. Instead, the veteran coach wants Lendeborg to trust his abilities and attack opportunities more decisively. "Yaxel was good, but we need him to be more aggressive," Kerr said after the game. One particular moment stood out to Kerr. Lendeborg received the ball close to the basket early in the second half but attempted to pass instead of taking the opportunity to finish at the rim. The possession ended in a turnover and the Clippers converted the resulting transition opportunity into a three-pointer. For Kerr, that was precisely the type of situation where his rookie needs to be more assertive. Despite the criticism, Kerr's comments also contained significant praise. The Warriors coach believes Lendeborg has enough ability to become an offensive threat when Stephen Curry is off the court, a remarkable level of confidence for a player who had only just completed his first preseason game. Stephen Curry delivered a similar message to his young teammate. The Warriors superstar said Lendeborg needs to find the right balance between playing aggressively and accepting that mistakes are part of the learning process. Curry made it clear that Golden State does not want the rookie to become passive because of an occasional missed shot or mistake. Instead, the team wants him to continue putting pressure on opponents at both ends of the floor. The expectations surrounding Lendeborg are considerable. Golden State selected him with the 11th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft after he played a major role in Michigan's national championship season. Before entering the NBA, Lendeborg averaged 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds during his final college season and earned several major honours, including consensus First-Team All-American recognition and Big Ten Player of the Year. Kerr had already described Lendeborg as an exceptionally NBA-ready rookie, while acknowledging that adapting defensively to the league would take time because of the complexity and variety of NBA offensive systems. That combination of praise and criticism shows how much the Warriors expect from their newest young player. Golden State appears ready to give Lendeborg meaningful opportunities, but the coaching staff wants him to play with confidence rather than hesitation. His first preseason game was far from perfect, but the message from Kerr and Curry is clear: mistakes will be accepted, passivity will not. With the regular season approaching, Lendeborg now has the opportunity to respond on the court and show that he can become an important part of the Warriors' plans.