Yaxel Lendeborg will not be getting into the NBA with particular person awards as his main goal. The Golden State Warriors rookie desires to regulate to the league, signify himself properly and turn into a participant younger followers can observe.
“Attempt to gradual the sport down. I don’t actually have any like MVP type of issues. I simply need to be a job mannequin to the youngsters, I wanna be any individual that the youngsters look as much as and wanna be like…attempt to be so simple as attainable,” Lendeborg mentioned when discussing his rookie-year targets.
Golden State chosen Lendeborg with the No. 11 total decide within the 2026 NBA Draft, including a 6-foot-9 ahead who helped Michigan win the NCAA championship. The Warriors considered him as a participant able to contributing instantly due to his versatility, bodily profile and expertise.
Lendeborg spent three faculty seasons at UAB earlier than transferring to Michigan for his last yr. Throughout 112 profession faculty video games, he averaged 15.5 factors, 9.5 rebounds and three.2 assists in 31.3 minutes per sport whereas taking pictures 51.7% from the sector, 36.4% from three-point vary and 79.2% from the free-throw line.
His greatest statistical season got here at UAB in 2024-25, when he averaged 17.7 factors, 11.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists over 37 video games. After shifting to Michigan, he adjusted his offensive position whereas changing into a extra environment friendly perimeter risk, averaging 15.1 factors, 6.8 rebounds and three.2 assists with a career-best 37.2% three-point taking pictures mark.
Lendeborg continued displaying his all-around talent throughout Summer season League motion. In three video games, he averaged 16.7 factors, 7.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 27.1 minutes per sport whereas taking pictures 48.7% from the sector and 42.9% from three-point vary.
The Warriors will enter the 2026-27 season attempting to maximise the remaining championship window of Stephen Curry, who averaged 26.6 factors, 4.7 assists and three.6 rebounds in 43 video games throughout the 2025-26 season. Golden State completed 37-45 and earned the No. 10 seed within the Western Convention, making speedy contributions from younger gamers more and more vital.
Lendeborg joins a roster that features Curry, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Inexperienced, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford. With Golden State balancing veteran contracts and salary-cap limitations, the rookie ahead may have a chance to earn rotation minutes early if he gives defensive versatility, rebounding and environment friendly scoring.
The Warriors additionally chosen guard LaJae Jones with the No. 54 total decide within the 2026 NBA Draft. Nevertheless, Lendeborg is the staff’s high first-round funding and the prospect anticipated to have the clearest path towards an NBA position.
