Overview
- The Golden State Warriors selected Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 11 overall pick on Tuesday, closing a draft-day decision that included live trade discussions in the team’s draft room.
- Lendeborg is a 23-year-old, 6-foot-9 American-Dominican forward who earned conference player and defensive honors at UAB before transferring to Michigan and helped the Wolverines win the 2026 NCAA title.
- He averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists for Michigan, is seen as more NBA-ready than many lottery picks, and will turn 24 before his rookie season.
- Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. called Lendeborg a versatile, multi-positional defender who can guard one through five and handle some backcourt ball duties.
- Keeping the pick ended reported trade concepts involving Trey Murphy III, and the front office views Lendeborg as immediate rotation help who can ease pressure on Stephen Curry and Draymond Green while fans celebrated the choice at Thrive City.