Warriors, Lakers and Heat rookies all turned heads on opening night.
NBA Summer League tipped off Friday night with a handful of rookies immediately making the case that they belong, even as their teams navigate wildly different offseasons back home.
A perfect debut for Golden State’s newest pick
Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, the 11th overall pick, delivered about as clean a debut as possible in the Warriors’ 104-72 win over the Lakers at Chase Center, scoring 19 points in 22 minutes on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting, including four made three-pointers. He also added five rebounds, a steal and a block.
Lendeborg said afterward that his passing ability tends to get overlooked, explaining that he built his game as a rebounder before developing into more of a scorer over the past few seasons. He was also candid about the parts of his game that need work, admitting he gave up more rebounds than he should have and would need to watch film to clean up his physicality on the boards. After the game, he was met by a crowd of cheering fans near the exit tunnel, an experience he said made him feel like he already belonged in the Bay Area.
Carr shows promise despite the loss
On the other bench, Lakers rookie Cameron Carr turned in an encouraging first outing of his own, scoring 19 points on 7-for-15 shooting just 10 days after being selected 24th overall in the draft. The 21-year-old guard, who shot 37.4% from three-point range last season at Baylor, said he felt nervous before tip-off but settled in once the game actually began, knocking down an early three-pointer, setting up a teammate for a score, then hitting another three.
Carr slipped in what analysts described as one of the most talent-rich draft classes in recent memory, but the Lakers valued him enough to swing a draft-day trade with the Knicks to acquire him. He measured out as one of the most athletic players in the entire class at the combine, posting the best wingspan, vertical leap and lane agility time among guards. His main focus now is adding strength to his 184-pound frame, something the team’s expanded training facility should help with going forward.
Heat squeak out a win behind a strong finish from Conwell
In a separate summer league opener in San Francisco, the Miami Heat edged San Antonio 88-87 behind contributions from several key players. First, second-round pick Ryan Conwell finished with 21 points despite missing six of his first seven shots, catching fire late with three-pointers and free throws down the stretch, his coach praising the poise he showed to fight through the slow start.
Second, two-way center Vlad Goldin stood out with 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks while anchoring the interior on both ends. Third, guards Jahmir Young and Trevor Keels, both playing after Miami declined to extend their two-way deals, chipped in 21 and 18 points, respectively, helping offset a rough night of 22 total turnovers for the Heat.