“This Kid Is Special” — Steve Kerr on Yaxel Lendeborg

Steve Kerr isn’t holding back on Yaxel Lendeborg. Five games into his rookie year, the Warriors head coach says the former Michigan national champion is “special,” wise beyond his years, and has the tools to be an All-Star. And Kerr says Golden State has to build a big part of its offense around him. That’s a huge statement about a rookie on a team still built around Steph Curry. Kerr explains why he loved seeing Yaxel crushed after a 26-point, 7-turnover night, what the coaching staff is teaching him about settling for threes, and why he compares his impact to what Jimmy Butler brought when he arrived. He also previews Yaxel’s rematch with Luka Doncic and the Lakers after last week’s comments, and explains why the Warriors let their players speak their minds instead of muzzling them. Then it gets real. Kerr admits the Warriors were caught off guard by the Kristaps Porzingis situation, praises Brandin Podziemski’s low-profile bounce-back start (plus-32 in Denver), and makes the case that Draymond Green is at his best at center, turnovers and all. Topics discussed include: Why Kerr thinks Yaxel Lendeborg is an All-Star in the making Fast-tracking a 24-year-old rookie’s maturity Yaxel vs. Jimmy Butler: the impact comparison Round 2 against Luka Doncic and the Lakers The Warriors’ “let players be themselves” media approach Brandin Podziemski winning fans back The Kristaps Porzingis situation and the young bigs stepping in Draymond Green at the 5 and his early-season turnovers Is Yaxel already the Warriors’ second-best player, or is it way too early for All-Star talk? Drop your take in the comments. 0:00 – Kerr: Yaxel Is Special 6:16 – Luka Rematch and Letting Players Speak 9:14 – Podziemski’s Quiet Bounce-Back 10:29 – Warriors Caught Off Guard by Porzingis 12:12 – Draymond at the 5 and the Turnovers Download the Audacy app to never miss any of your favorite 957 The Game content: https://go.audacy.com/y-listen-live-9... Listen live: https://www.audacy.com/957thegame/listen Visit our website: https://www.957thegame.com Subscribe on Twitch:   / 957thegame   Follow us on Twitter:   / 957thegame   Like us on Facebook:   / 957thegame   Follow us on Instagram:   / 957thegame   Join our Newsletter: https://www.audacy.com/957thegame/joi...