Yaxel balls out + injury-riddled seasons with JE Skeets, Magic check-in with Steve Ceruti + NBA Power Rankings 1.0 | The Kevin O'Connor Show

Kevin O'Connor (0:00)

Coming up, we're going through my power rankings. 30 to 1, a two week check in here in the NBA. But first, talking with JE Skeets from No Dunks and Steve Ceruti from The Ryan Rusciolo Show. That's all coming up right now.

All right now joining me from No Dunks, JE Skeets. What up, JE?

JE Skeets (0:22)

What's up, Kevin? How's it going, man?

Kevin O'Connor (0:24)

I'm doing great, man. I was having a hell of a lot of fun watching Yaxel Lendeborg. I can't stay up late for the game between the Clippers and the Warriors, but 37 points for NBA rookie Yaxel Lendeborg looked like an absolute star.

Scoring inside, couldn't be stopped from three point range. The Warriors were supposed to be this dreary, unhappy team that was going to trade Draymond next year. And Steph was going to be a sad farewell tour. Instead, their rookie is changing the way we look at this Warriors team, Skeets. It's amazing to watch.

JE Skeets (1:02)

You're absolutely right. It looked like this season was sort of over before it started in a weird way with the Warriors. Like you're saying, everybody's sort of down on them, like, oh, will they be like fighting for a playing spot? Oh, do you just shut down Curry? Just like sort of write this season off or maybe hope for Jimmy to come back and save them. And now here with Yaxel lighting it up, yeah, there's a little hope there. And there's some buzz there in the Bay, to pair nicely with the Valkyries winning the WNBA title. But it is wild. Like this game where you had Steph and Draymond sitting on the first half of a back to back and probably as you should with their age and where they're at in their careers for a rookie to just show that he's capable of leading this team.

It's amazing. And his jump shot, like you're the more draft expert than I am. I sort of almost ignore a lot of what's going on in college because I'm like diehard NBA. His shot looks far more polished than at least I expected. Maybe you, the experts, like I just can't believe like the repertoire he showed in this game last night, especially the three ball and off the dribble and sidesteps and it looks fluid. In addition to still driving in the mid range, he's like showing off that he can score at all three levels. So incredible stuff here.

Kevin O'Connor (2:17)

I mean, with Yaxel, it's funny because he was more of like a big at lower levels in Juco and then at UAB. After he transferred there, he had to develop his jumper. His first year with UAB took us one three pointer per game and he didn't even make many of them and each year, his senior year at UAB and then after transferring as a fifth year senior at Michigan, every year his shock got better. So he's following that trajectory this year with Golden State with the spot up still there, the pull up as you're saying, just he was on fire against the Clippers. He's hitting it from mid-range, can hit it from three-point range. It's following a trajectory and this is where like, why free throw percentage is historically a stronger indicator of future three-point shooting success than college three-point percentages. Yaxel has always been a 80-ish percent guy from the free throw line and now that touch is translating. And for Golden State, people talk about, you know, this 24-year-old rookie, oh, he's an old rookie.

The rookie of the year might be older than the MVP this year.

If Yaxel wins, it's very possible. And ultimately, though, for Golden State, who cares? Like, what does it matter? You have this guy on your team now, and he's changing the idea of what they can be. Because not only is Yaxel super impressive as a rookie, but Stephen Curry, 29 points per game on just absurd efficiency, almost 70% true shooting. Steph doesn't move as fast as he once did, but the team is still a nightmare for opposing defenses. And so if you have those guys and if Draymond can turn it on, and you eventually get Jimmy Butler back or flip Jimmy Butler because Yaxel is so good, however, you play it out. Like, maybe Golden State is going to be a lot better than we might have anticipated.

JE Skeets (4:01)

I think that's exactly right. I keep coming back to that word hope. He's like giving them a little hope here. Like, we've been and remained confident when Curry is out there and healthy, like he's still the greatest shooter we've ever seen. So you're always going to have a chance, but who's along for the ride, especially offensively, like where Pojemsky and I feel like he's starting to get it going as well. And I like sort of his one, two game with Yaxel that I'm seeing here early. But it's like you need some help. And this guy right now, Yaxel is coming through. I love the triple Yaxel call on three pointers too.