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Without Steph Curry, Warriors rookie is going to be put to ultimate test
Stephen Curry’s abdominal tear has thrust Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg into a leading role, testing whether he can sustain Golden State’s strong start without its star. The injury could keep Curry out for nearly a month, leaving Lendeborg to shoulder more of the scoring and attention from opposing defences.
Lendeborg, 24, is averaging 21.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists, and has emerged as a contender for Rookie of the Year. Curry was averaging 30.6 points as the Warriors put together an eight-game winning run; Draymond Green says Lendeborg began attacking more after recognising his responsibility. Golden State has other contributors, including Brandin Podziemski, but last season it went 13-26 without Curry.
In short
- Curry could miss nearly a month with an abdominal tear.
- Lendeborg is averaging 21.7 points in his rookie season.
- The Warriors must find out if he can lead without Curry.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Curry’s absence gives Lendeborg a chance to show that his strong rookie numbers can hold up when opponents focus more of their defence on him. If he can take on added scoring and responsibility, Golden State may preserve its momentum and gain confidence in its depth.
The case against
Curry’s scoring and influence have been central to the Warriors’ success, and last season’s poor record without him suggests his absence could be hard to absorb. Asking a rookie to replace that production may expose the limits of his current form and put the team’s winning run at risk.