Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr praised Yaxel Lendeborg's offensive potential but criticized his defensive awareness. The rookie has impressed early, with Kerr previously praising his ability to lead Golden State's offense. However, the coach believes Lendeborg still has significant room for improvement.

“His weak-side awareness right now is very poor,” Kerr said in a video shared on X.

The Warriors coach believes Lendeborg's physical attributes should make him a more effective defensive presence near the basket.

“With his size, he should be one of our best defenders at the rim,” Kerr added.

Kerr also highlighted Lendeborg's offensive versatility, describing the youngster as fearless and capable of dribbling, passing, and shooting.

However, the coach pointed to a first-half possession when Lendeborg attacked a defender instead of choosing another option.

“That's gotta be a pull-up jumper. That's gotta be a Euro step. That's gotta be kick it out,” Kerr explained.

The Warriors coach emphasized that decisions that worked in college might not translate against NBA defenders.

Despite those concerns, Kerr remains confident that regular playing time and film sessions will accelerate Lendeborg's development.

“He's playing a ton, and he's gonna get all these reps,” Kerr said.

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The criticism comes after Kerr previously challenged Lendeborg to become more aggressive offensively.

Golden State's coaching staff now wants the rookie to improve his positioning and recognition when defending away from the ball.

Kerr's message is clear: Lendeborg has the talent to contribute immediately, but his defensive instincts must catch up.

Kerr believes Lendeborg's continued development will depend on how quickly he adjusts to the NBA's defensive demands and learns from mistakes.