Yaxel Lendeborg matches Shaquille O’Neal with historic NBA start

Yaxel Lendeborg continued his impressive start to life in the NBA by delivering a standout performance in the Golden State Warriors' 134-114 victory over the Denver Nuggets. The 24-year-old rookie recorded 31 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in just 31 minutes, helping Golden State secure its first win of the season.

Lendeborg shot 9-of-19 from the field and converted 12 of his 13 free throws as the Warriors overwhelmed Denver. His all-round contribution underlined why he has quickly become one of the most talked-about newcomers in the league.

The performance also placed Lendeborg alongside some legendary names in NBA history. According to OptaSTATS, he joined Patrick Ewing, David Robinson and Shaquille O’Neal as the only players in the draft lottery era, dating back to the 1985-86 season, to record at least 85 points and 35 rebounds across their first four NBA games.

Through his first four NBA appearances, Lendeborg has accumulated 87 points and 37 rebounds. The achievement places the Golden State forward in rare company with three Hall of Famers who made similarly strong starts to their professional careers.