First round pick makes bold claim about potential role with Golden State Warriors

First round pick makes bold claim about potential role with Golden State Warriors originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Starting as a rookie in the NBA is difficult. Starting in the NBA as a rookie for Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is exceedingly difficult – and rare.

Kerr has a reputation for not giving many minutes to rookies, probably because he’s coached contending teams replete with veterans for the vast majority of his career. 

But, Warriors first round draft pick Yaxel Lendeborg thinks he might have an opportunity to do just that. Speaking at his introductory press conference with the Warriors, Lendeborg expressed optimism that he could potentially start for Kerr as a rookie. 

“He doesn’t normally play rookies as much. You know, he has a history of that,” Lendeborg said of Kerr. 

“But the way that the team is looking now, I’m gonna have a really good chance of playing, maybe even starting. So just having that kind of hope definitely gives me extra motivation to just go out out there and be one of the new guys that actually does that and actually comes in and builds a reputation right away.” 

This story will be updated. 

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