Warriors Select 23-Year-Old Former Michigan Wolverine Champion with 11th Pick in 2026 NBA Draft
On February 20th, 2026, the ‘Players’ Tribune’ gave Yaxel Lendeborg a space to tell his life story. In an article that he wrote himself titled, ‘How My Mom Saved My Life,’ Lenderborg recalled the exact moment his trajectory was altered forever. The New Jersey native grew up with basketball in his bloodline, as both of his parents played for the Dominican Republic’s national team. In this mini autobiography, Lendeborg admitted that he often didn’t listen to his mom. No, his situation wasn’t like most of us, going through a rebellious phase with our parents, but eventually straightening out. His mother, Yissel, was not just seeing disobedience in her son’s life; she saw him heading down the wrong path on a one-way track.
Yaxel had a progressively worsening relationship with his dad, and his mom was forced to work multiple jobs to feed her four children. Amidst the chaos of a random night, when she went to pick her only son up from a friend’s house late, Yissel broke down in a manner that Yaxel had never witnessed before. Filled with emotion, the then-17-year-old boy seemed to finally understand why his mother had continuously chased him to straighten out. Though he had nearly run out of time to get everything together, Lendeborg made a decision that night that led to where he is today: standing in front of thousands of fans and hearing his name called during the 2026 NBA Draft.
As you can probably tell, the Golden State Warriors just selected someone who very well might not have become a professional basketball player. However, not only did he make that dream of his a reality, but he’s turned out to be pretty good at it, too. Lendeborg was a pillar for Michigan’s national championship run last year, mainly due to his versatility. The Warriors have now gotten themselves a proper three-and-D wing that relies heavily on his athleticism, but has seen his shooting percentages increase over the years as well. Golden State needed an elite athlete to pair up with the likes of Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, whose age no longer allows them to exert as much effort on defense as it once did.
More importantly, the 2022 NBA Champions add a plug-and-play piece to their roster. The former Wolverine forward has accumulated six years of collegiate experience, between junior-college and NCAA. This was one of the main reasons he made my list of possible draftees for Golden State, since the team undoubtedly needs to win now. The Michigan alumnus is ready to do just that, sharing a wholesome moment crying in his mother’s arms before taking the stage and putting on his Warriors cap. However, don’t mistake this display of Lendeborg’s emotional vulnerability for a weakness, because he brings a tenacious style every time he steps between the four white lines.
