SAN FRANCISCO – There’s a lot to like about projected lottery draft prospect Yaxel Lendeborg. He’s a big, long wing who’s a Swiss Army knife defensively and a floor-raising connector offensively.
But what might separate him from the rest of the lottery draft prospect pack is his winning pedigree.
After his pre-draft workout with the Golden State Warriors, in which the team took the him through a series of 1-on-1 and 3-on-3 drills, as well as seeing how he looked playing off of actions and movement, Lendeborg talked about how his experience in a winning program at Michigan can help him in his NBA career.
“A lot of people like winners,” Lendeborg said. “Me being in the position that I was this past year showcased that I wanted to put aside any stat, or anything about myself, to win. Being in a winning culture, a winning program shows you a lot of different things that you have to do. Not just as far as sacrifices, but just as far as everyday, living to bring a spark and bring a kind of good energy to the squad.”
Across 40 games last season at Michigan, Lendeborg averaged 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds while shooting 51.5% from the field and 37.3% from the 3-point line. The 24-year-old forward was one of the driving forces behind the Wolverines’ dominant title run, earning the chops and experience that the Warriors have been known to value.
“They came from great programs, and they’re winners. It’s one of the reasons why they’re both here,” coach Steve Kerr said of Will Richard and LJ Cryer early last season, two players who came from winning, blue-blood programs in Florida and Houston, respectively.
Whether that specific trait is something the Warriors will value when deciding who to take with the 11th pick remains to be seen. But Lendeborg offers more than just a winning pedigree for a team like Golden State.
Yaxel Lendeborg’s potential fit in Golden State
It’s no surprise Lendeborg worked out with the Warriors, given how his game fits a lot of what Golden State likes to do. Standing at nearly 6-foot-9 and 241 pounds, with a staggering 7-foot-4 wingspan, Lendeborg is a versatile wing who can guard all five positions while also enhancing an NBA offense with his connector abilities.
In the NBA, Lendeborg believes he can instantly become a five-assist-a-game player while also being a positive impact on defense and in transition. And with the Warriors, he can see himself as a complementary player who can enhance their stars.
“If I was here, I would be more like a secondary ball handler,” Lendeborg said when asked about his potential fit in Golden State. “Whenever Steph [Curry] is getting taken out of the game. I’ll be there to assist. Maybe provide a little bit more offense or instant offense.”
Like any player joining the Warriors program, their fit next to Stephen Curry is of the utmost importance. But for Lendeborg, there are a lot of green flags with how he’d look next to Curry. His playmaking abilities would go a long way in finding Curry on the perimeter, and his ability as a decision-maker as the outlet in the pick-and-roll is high-level.
And beyond the X’s and O’s, Lendeborg would be very excited to play with a player he’s grown up watching.
“It’d be amazing,” Lendeborg smiled, raving about how when he met Curry, he felt like the superstar had a real care for the younger players coming up into the league. “He provides so much gravity on the court that it really makes it super easy for other guys to score, other guys to showcase any ability that they have.”
Yaxel Lendeborg’s draft journey thus far
Lendeborg still has two more workouts left before he’s finished with his pre-draft process, with the Los Angeles Clippers and Atlanta Hawks on the schedule in the coming days. Besides the Warriors, he’s worked out with the Thunder, Heat, Bucks, Hornets, and Mavericks, a busy schedule for a guy who can land anywhere beyond the top four in the lottery.
But with workouts also come interviews. And with Golden State, Lendeborg wanted to make sure his genuine personality came across when talking with the big decision-makers.
“Just my personality, how I am,” Lendeborg said. “I’m a very real, honest guy. And a guy who likes goofing off a lot. So you know, just showing my authentic self is something I always want to showcase.”
There are things Lendeborg still wants to improve on as he enters his rookie season. Namely, getting more fluid in his defensive stance and change of pace abilities, as well as just getting stronger across the board. Not to mention also wanting to improve his 3-point shot and get more consistent from deep.
And while his older age is something that’s been used against him in the pre-draft process, Lendeborg’s confident he’ll be able to showcase why he belongs in the NBA.
“If you can play, you can play,” Lendeborg said. “A lot of these younger prospects have just been in the spotlight a little bit longer than I was, been playing since they were younger. Everybody’s path is different, and every time I get on the court, I’m gonna showcase that.”
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