Yaxel Lendeborg had the chance to go into the NBA last season after two years with UAB and two years at Arizona Western, a junior college, before that. He entered the transfer portal, but also declared for the NBA Draft, deciding to keep his options open while he tested the NBA waters. Lendeborg landed at Michigan before he made his official decision to withdraw from the draft, and it is one that might have saved him.
By waiting another year to go into the NBA Draft, yes, Lendeborg was older, which isn't typical of a lot of guys going into the league now. So many top-ranked recruits go into college with the mindset of playing a one-and-done season and then heading to the next level. Now, Lendeborg is in the league after being selected No. 11 by the Golden State Warriors and is making his presence known.
Yeah… Yax isn’t a rookie pic.twitter.com/k56ov12BN1
— Brice Marich (@BriceMarich) July 15, 2026
Lendeborg and the Warriors took on Cameron Boozer and the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA Summer League last night, and it is hard to believe Lendeborg is a rookie at times with the way he plays. In the clip above, Lendeborg drove to the basket and absolutely bodied Boozer in the lane, who easily has over 10 pounds on him
Yaxel Lendeborg's age will help him in the NBA more than anyone wants to admit
The freshman class from this last college basketball season was one for the ages. Every young guy was a difference maker from their team, from Cameron Boozer with Duke to Keaton Wagler with Illinois to AJ Dybantsa with BYU. Youth certainly is seen as an asset for players going high in the NBA Draft.
While Yaxel is young by normal standards, he is on the older side when it comes to professional sports. Coming into the NBA at 23 is not the most ideal when it comes to having a longer career, but what it does mean is that he is coming in with a lot more higher-level playing experience than guys who only played one season of college basketball.
It is clear with the way Lendeborg is playing, who is averaging the most points per game than any other rookie in Summer League, that he has a bright future ahead of him, and five years of college basketball experience can't be counted out for that.
Imagine what will happen when he gets on the court with guys like Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler when he returns from his ACL injury. His experience and moving from team to team during his college career will help him in gelling with his new teammates.
Lendeborg is a rookie by name, but he isn't playing like one; he looks like a seasoned guy out there on the court, which is what Golden State needs.
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