For fans following Golden State through 12BET VR46, the Warriors finally rediscovered some much-needed freedom in their second preseason game. Facing a depleted Lakers team playing on the second night of a back-to-back, Golden State knocked down 10 three-pointers before halftime and shot an astonishing 66.7 percent from beyond the arc. The Warriors also recorded 20 first-half assists and built a 28-point advantage, numbers that perfectly reflected the fast, unselfish basketball head coach Steve Kerr wants his team to play.

Even allowing for the weakened opposition, the biggest change came from within the Warriors themselves. After looking slow and lifeless in their previous outing, Kerr altered the starting lineup by resting veteran Al Horford and inserting the younger, more energetic Santos. Since Santos primarily plays small forward, replacing Horford made Kerr’s intentions obvious. Golden State wanted to begin with a small-ball lineup, sacrificing size for speed while increasing the tempo in transition and creating more space for Stephen Curry and the other perimeter threats.

The plan worked almost immediately. Brandin Podziemski opened the game aggressively, first hitting a difficult three while defended by Bronny James and drawing the foul for a four-point play. He then received a clever pass from Curry and finished comfortably at the rim, scoring Golden State’s first six points by himself.

From there, the Warriors offense exploded. Kerr saw a three-pointer fall, while Lundberg and Santos repeatedly attacked the paint. With 7:24 remaining in the opening quarter, even a somewhat desperate Curry pass toward the perimeter turned into something positive. Draymond Green bent down to collect the loose ball from near the floor and casually launched a three-pointer that somehow dropped.

The evening carried extra significance because it was Golden State’s first home appearance of the new season. The organization used the game to honor former head coach Don Nelson, who passed away during the summer. Many of Nelson’s former players attended the tribute, including several members of the famous Warriors team that produced one of the NBA’s most memorable first-round upsets.

Golden State’s flowing, high-speed offense could hardly have been more appropriate for a night celebrating Nelson. The ball moved rapidly, players attacked without hesitation and the Warriors repeatedly turned defensive stops into immediate offense. Podziemski bounced back strongly, while Curry entertained the home crowd with spectacular four-point plays. Yet the player who truly stole the spotlight was rookie Lundberg.

Only two months earlier, the older rookie had introduced himself during Summer League with his exceptional basketball intelligence and reliable shooting. He helped Golden State capture a long-awaited championship and personally collected both tournament MVP and Finals MVP honors. Those performances immediately raised expectations.

Normally, the Warriors are extremely patient with young players. Under the team’s traditional development philosophy, rookies are often asked to earn every minute, starting with a minor role before gradually progressing from the bench to the starting lineup and eventually receiving meaningful tactical responsibility. That process can easily take half a season. Lundberg, however, appears to be skipping several steps.

Golden State gave him significant playing time in the preseason opener. His contributions were varied, but his overall production still showed a noticeable gap between an inexperienced rookie and a fully developed NBA wing. Kerr did not lose confidence in him. Instead, the coach expanded his opportunities in the second preseason game.

Lundberg rewarded that trust by playing every minute with maximum intensity while showing maturity far beyond what would normally be expected from a rookie. After learning from his first game, he did not begin by settling for perimeter jumpers. He used his strength, balance and change of pace to attack the basket repeatedly and finish through contact.

That physical approach became an important part of Golden State’s early dominance. Lundberg helped the Warriors gain an advantage around the rim and forced the Lakers defense to collapse toward the paint, which in turn created more open opportunities on the perimeter. His contribution was about much more than simply scoring.

As the action developed for viewers following the Warriors through 12BET VR46, Lundberg also demonstrated impressive awareness. When he returned during the second quarter, he quickly recognized that the Lakers defense had begun collapsing too aggressively whenever Golden State attacked inside. Rather than continuing to force his way into the paint, he adjusted immediately and knocked down consecutive three-pointers from opposite sides of the floor.

His impact was equally valuable on defense. Lundberg once again showed dependable rebounding instincts, but perhaps even more important was what happened immediately after he secured the ball. Instead of holding possession and slowing the game down, he consistently looked to advance it as quickly as possible.

That instinct fits Kerr’s system almost perfectly. It also suits Curry and Green, Golden State’s two longtime leaders, who have built much of the Warriors’ identity around quick decisions, early passes and constant movement. Lundberg appears to understand that philosophy naturally rather than needing to be repeatedly coached into it.

It is therefore hardly surprising that he has earned excellent reviews inside the organization since training camp began. Even Green, whose demanding personality and sharp criticism of teammates are well known, has offered unusually strong praise for the young player.

Green has highlighted both Lundberg’s basketball intelligence and his physical toughness, two qualities that can be difficult to find together in an inexperienced prospect. More importantly, Green believes the rookie can eventually become an important part of Golden State’s system rather than simply serving as a temporary rotation piece.

For supporters watching Golden State develop through 12BET VR46, Lundberg’s rapid rise may be one of the most encouraging stories of the preseason. Curry can still produce spectacular moments and remains the center of everything the Warriors do, but this night belonged to the rookie who influenced the game at both ends of the floor. With his strength, awareness, shooting, rebounding and willingness to move the ball quickly, Lundberg is already showing that he may not need the usual lengthy apprenticeship before earning a meaningful role in Kerr’s rotation.