Warriors’ Yaxel Lendeborg receives votes for two NBA rookie superlatives

Warriors’ Yaxel Lendeborg receives votes for two NBA rookie superlatives originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors enter the 2026-27 NBA season with a lot to prove after missing the playoffs last season. Yet to sign any new players, Golden State’s roster looks very similar to how it did last season, with the franchise set to rely on aging stars Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler. But rookie Yaxel Lendeborg quickly could prove himself as a pivotal piece, receiving votes for two NBA rookie superlatives ahead of the campaign.

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Receiving one vote for lottery pick that will have the biggest impact on winning this season and three votes for which rookie will prove to be the biggest draft steal, Lendeborg’s dominant summer league campaign — where he averaged nearly 15 points per game and won the competition’s MVP award while guiding the Warriors to the title — turned heads.

While the Warriors do not normally utilize rookies on a regular basis, Lendeborg’s track record as a college basketball player and his older age for a rookie, 24-years-old, could force Golden State to play their hand. Helping Michigan win only its second national title in basketball, and being a big part of the team, trying to build around Lendeborg is something the Warriors could consider.

Coming in tied for third on the lottery picks to have the biggest impact on winning this season, Lendeborg joins Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa and Morez Johnson Jr. On the biggest draft steal list, Lendeborg came in second, just behind Brayden Burries, while coming in ranked ahead of Darius Acuff Jr., Caleb Wilson and Kingston Flemings.

Starting his college basketball career playing at the junior college level for Arizona Western in Yuma, Lendeborg transferred to UAB ahead of the 2023-24 season and spent two seasons there before joining Michigan for his final season of eligibility. Flying under the radar for most of his college tenure, Lendeborg’s breakout season for the Wolverines, where he averaged 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds, propelled him into first-round draft pick conversations.

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/warriors-yaxel-lendeborg-receives-votes-124343984.html

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Publish date : 2026-08-18 12:43:00

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