Steve Kerr on Yaxel Lendeborg: ‘We need to get him the ball’ when Curry sits, as Melton explains the Warriors’ new offense

Three weeks of training camp were enough for Steve Kerr to make up his mind about Yaxel Lendeborg. Asked on Tuesday whether his trust in putting the ball in the rookie’s hands had grown since camp opened, the Golden State Warriors coach said it had, and he explained exactly where Lendeborg fits in the offense.

“Well, you get three weeks to see what you have and what your team looks like,” Kerr said after the Warriors’ last practice before the season opener. “And one of the things we recognize right away is he’s really good with the ball in his hands, and especially when Steph’s off the floor, we need to get him the ball. He’s six-ten. He can pass. He can shoot. Good recognition of what the defense is doing.”

Then he added four words: “And he’s ready for it.”

Steve Kerr said his trust to put the ball in Yaxel Lendeborg’s hands has “for sure” grown across last three weeks.

“One of the things we recognize right away is, he’s really good with the ball in his hands. And especially when Steph’s off the floor, we need to get him the ball.” pic.twitter.com/T6K8Flkgcj

— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) October 20, 2026

From ‘protect him’ to ‘get him the ball’

The Warriors took Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick in June. He is 24, older than most first-round rookies, after two seasons at UAB and a national-title run at Michigan, and Golden State drafted him to help now, in the final seasons of Stephen Curry’s career. Kerr confirmed on Monday that Lendeborg will start the opener.

The tone around him has changed fast. On the first day of camp, Curry said “it’s our job to protect him” from outside expectations. Lendeborg then started twice in the preseason with Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos and Draymond Green. He had 17 points and nine rebounds against the Lakers on Oct. 6, and 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists against Sacramento on Oct. 10.

Green went further than Kerr this week. On his own show with Taylor Rooks, he said: “The Golden State Warriors has found the next face of the franchise.” He also called Lendeborg his Rookie of the Year pick. Green also told a story from the team’s open practice. While the players were gathered under the rim waiting to start, Lendeborg was still in the tunnel signing autographs, and Kerr had to walk over and bring him back. “I told him last night, I said, hey, everybody going to be joking, you’re a rookie,” Green said. “Don’t lose that. Because that’s actually what Steph Curry would do.”

Melton: fewer splits, different starts

Kerr has spent camp installing a new offense, and De’Anthony Melton gave the clearest explanation yet of what fans will see on Wednesday. The Warriors have run split actions, the off-ball screens and cuts that start after a post entry, for most of the Curry era. That will happen less this season.

“I think everybody over here is just so used to split action being run constantly,” Melton said on Tuesday. “And I think now it’s not going to be as many splits, or the splits are coming from different angles, or maybe a little later in the possession.” Starting spots on the floor will be different too, he said, and the team wants to use its depth to attack.

Asked what replaces the splits, Melton said the Warriors have “actions” and “sets” for it. “Sometimes stuff just starts different. It may lead into splits if we get into trouble,” he said. “But we have other initial starting stuff that will definitely be a little different. I mean, people can see it.” He also pointed to the two players who have run the offense for more than a decade: “Steph and Dray have been the best in chaos. And we’re always figuring it out.”

Asked De’Anthony Melton to help explain what’s different this yr in #Warriors’ offense.

“Everybody over here is just so used to split-actions being run constantly. And I think now, it’s not going to be as many splits.”

Or splits will come later in possession, different angles. pic.twitter.com/Mmw2UFbiBP

— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) October 20, 2026

Curry is ready, Podziemski and Bassey are not yet

Kerr does not plan to ease Curry in, even with the right ankle he turned at Sunday’s open practice and the maintenance plan the team uses for its older players. Asked whether Curry would play limited minutes on Wednesday, Kerr said no. “He’s ready to go,” he said.

Two other players are less certain. Podziemski (lower back soreness) and center Charles Bassey (knee tendinitis) did not practice on Tuesday, and Kerr listed both as questionable. If Podziemski cannot play, Kerr will need a new fifth starter.

Curry and Green begin their 15th season together on Wednesday. The Warriors visit the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena at 10 p.m. ET, which is 5 a.m. Thursday in Cairo.