Warriors Start Al Horford and Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg in Preseason Opener

Steve Kerr has named Brandin Podziemski, rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, and Al Horford to the Golden State Warriors starting lineup alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green for their preseason opener against the Los Angeles Clippers in Honolulu, Hawaii. The configuration marks the head coach’s first experimental look of the training camp as the franchise adjusts to an opening-night roster missing Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody.

Balancing the Floor With Five Playmakers

The newly minted five pairs Curry and Podziemski in the backcourt alongside Lendeborg, Green, and Horford, creating an alignment engineered to stretch defenses far beyond the arc. According to comments provided by Kerr, the coaching staff wanted to evaluate a unit where every player on the floor possesses both perimeter shooting range and the ability to initiate an offensive possession. “Al, Yaxel and BP can all three shoot the 3-point shot, but also create play,” Kerr stated regarding the personnel choice. “So it’s a balanced five. The question will be whether we can do that in the first regular-season game, given Al’s age, his minute management and everything that goes with it. Who knows? But for right now, that’s how we’re going to start.” The alignment remains an exhibition trial rather than a locked regular-season fixture, designed specifically to test new offensive principles under game conditions.

Al Horford Stepping Into the Pivot Role

Horford’s inclusion as the starting center addresses an immediate roster vacancy created by the absence of Kristaps Porziņgis, who did not travel to Hawaii due to ongoing health management. To safeguard against the center’s chronic availability questions, the Warriors signed Horford to a 14 million dollar contract that includes a player option for a second season. The veteran big man brings a career 38 percent success rate from behind the arc, giving Golden State the floor-spacing element required at the five spot while allowing Green to slide into a less physically taxing power forward role. Horford acknowledged the team’s internal depth while discussing the tactical shift. “We have a lot of depth,” Horford noted. “When you look at our frontcourt group, several guys can step in. Draymond has also played center before. We’ll just have to figure things out and evolve differently until KP gets back.” Despite his integration into the first unit, Horford faces a strict workload ceiling that limited him to 45 appearances last season and is expected to restrict him to a single appearance during back-to-back schedules.

Yaxel Lendeborg Earns Immediate Responsibility

At 24 years old, rookie Yaxel Lendeborg steps directly into high-level minutes alongside established franchise veterans. Standing 2 meters and 6 centimeters tall and weighing 110 kilograms with a wingspan exceeding 2 meters and 20 centimeters, Lendeborg offers the defensive versatility and floor vision that the coaching staff prioritized during camp workouts. His ability to handle the ball, set screens, and shoot from distance led Kerr to offer a straightforward appraisal of the newcomer’s skill set. “He’s simply a basketball player,” Kerr observed. “He can dribble, pass and shoot. The position you play him doesn’t really matter.”

Backcourt Competition After Klay Thompson Departure

Brandin Podziemski joins the opening unit as Kerr continues searching for the permanent backcourt complement to Curry following Klay Thompson’s departure in 2024. Podziemski started 43 of his 82 appearances during the previous campaign, using his aggressive driving style and foul-drawing ability to edge out De’Anthony Melton for the initial nod in Honolulu.

Warriors Preseason Lineup Averages

Preseason Opener Details in Honolulu

The Golden State Warriors face the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday in Honolulu, marking the official debut of the team’s experimental starting lineup at the island training camp venue.