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Golden State Warriors Draft Yaxel Lendeborg at No. 11 in 2026 NBA Draft
The 23-year-old forward from Michigan averaged 15.1 points and earned first-team All-American honors last season. He is expected to contribute immediately with Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody sidelined by injuries.
Jul 16, 1:12 PM·1m read1 source
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Yaxel Lendeborg was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward is at least three years older than each of the 10 players drafted ahead of him.
Lendeborg led Michigan to an NCAA championship last season. He averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals while shooting 52 percent from the field. He was named Big Ten Player of the Year and a first-team All-American.
The Warriors held a private pre-draft workout with Lendeborg on June 11. Owner Joe Lacob said last month the team acquired the player it sought. Lendeborg said he is excited to start another Warriors dynasty.
Jimmy Butler has a torn right ACL and Moses Moody has a torn left patellar tendon. Both are out for the start of the season. In the Warriors’ first two Las Vegas Summer League games, Lendeborg averaged 17.5 points on 48.1 percent field-goal shooting and 50 percent three-point shooting.
Lendeborg said he used to dislike Steph Curry because he was a Kyrie Irving fan. Curry replied on Instagram that he would work to become Lendeborg’s new favorite player. Draymond Green said on his podcast that he replied to Lendeborg’s text the next minute.
Lendeborg’s mother, Yissel Raposo, was diagnosed with Stage 4 appendix cancer during his final season at Michigan. After Commissioner Adam Silver announced the selection, Lendeborg hugged his mother.
