Stephen Curry’s Legacy Fuels Warriors’ Summer League Charge After Lakers Win

Golden State’s Summer League run now hinges on a rematch with the Lakers after Stephen Curry’s legacy took center stage in the Warriors’ 92-88 semifinal win on Saturday.

What happened?

The Warriors erased their only Summer League loss of 2025 by beating the Los Angeles Lakers 92-88 in the semifinal on July 19, setting up a championship game Sunday. Golden State had dropped to Memphis earlier in group play but stormed back with a statement victory. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, the No. 11 overall pick, delivered a postgame message that fused the team’s present with its past.

Why it matters for Stephen Curry

Lendeborg name-dropped Stephen Curry and Draymond Green after the win, framing the rookie’s role as a bridge between eras. “Keep Curry’s years alive and Draymond’s years alive,” he said, tying the franchise’s identity to the two-time MVP’s past and Green’s defensive prime. The message landed hard for a team chasing its first Summer League title since 2013.

A rookie’s bold tone

Lendeborg isn’t treating Sunday as a finish line. He averaged 13.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists across four group games, flashing the two-way versatility Golden State drafted him for. His confidence mirrors the franchise’s swagger-even if the trophy is small, the statement isn’t.

Chasing a decade-old drought

The Warriors last hoisted Summer League gold in 2013, when Ian Clark earned Finals MVP and Green was still a rookie. A win Sunday would end a 12-year title drought and give this rookie class a launching pad for 2025-26. The stakes? Legacy, not just hardware.