As Yaxel Lendeborg continues in the NBA Draft process, he could find himself missing some of the great things about Michigan. Missing his teammates, his coaches, and even the rivalry of college sports, because who wouldn't, especially after winning a National Championship.
Lendeborg took some time on Monday afternoon to reminisce on his time in Ann Arbor, also taking the opportunity for a little troll job. While Lendeborg posted photos on his Instagram story of his teammates and coaches, he also took the time to prove just how superior a coach Dusty May is, especially over Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo.
Lendeborg posted a photo-shopped photo of May dunking on Izzo, with no caption, as in reality, the photo spoke for itself.
Yaxel Lendeborg is the greatest Michigan Wolverine of all time 🐐 pic.twitter.com/lFD4N0ew3h
— THE RED RANGER (@THEREDRANGER3) June 1, 2026
Yaxel Lendeborg could truly go down as one of the greatest players at Michigan
This time last year, Michigan fans were on pins and needles, wondering if Lendeborg would truly withdraw from the NBA Draft and join May's squad. In the end, he did just that, and it could have been what put Michigan over the edge to be a National Championship contender.
From the jump, Lendeborg was a key piece of Michigan's team that would ultimately go on to win a National Championship. His stats speak for themselves, averaging 15.1 points per game, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, but what fans are really going to remember is what he did in those final two games as a Wolverine.
Against Arizona in the Final Four matchup, Lendeborg went down with what looked like, at the time, a pretty significant knee injury. Fans wondered how this would affect the Wolverines, but they didn't miss a beat against the Wildcats in that first half, building a sizable lead. It felt like Lendeborg's season was done, and Michigan would have to do it without their best player, but Lendeborg didn't allow that to happen.
The star forward checked back into the back in the second half, clearly playing through the pain, limping up and down the court, but hit some very key shots for the Wolverines out of the half, continuing to build their lead. Lendeborg's testing came back negative, saying it was a MCL sprain and low-ankle sprain, but he played through the pain in the National Championship.
Lendeborg did just that, giving Michigan 36 minutes in the championship game, leading the Wolverines to a title for the first time since 1989. That is what fans will remember about Lendeborg's time in Ann Arbor, doing whatever was needed for his team.
Where does Yaxel Lendeborg stand among the NBA Draft boards?
After withdrawing from the NBA Draft last year to up his stock in this upcoming NBA Draft, it's clear Lendeborg made the right call. The Michigan star is currently projected to be a late lottery pick or a mid-first-round pick coming off a season in which he was named the Big Ten Player of the Year.
That would put Lendeborg anywhere between the No. 8 and No. 16 pick in the draft, projected to teams including the Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Now, the downside to Lendeborg, according to the draft boards, is his age. He isn't like these other young studs like Darryn Peterson and Keaton Wagler coming into the draft before the age of 20.
That doesn't mean Lendeborg won't be a high pick as he has clearly shown he can ball out, even through an injury when it matters most. Michigan fans will be able to watch where Lendeborg will be drafted on Tuesday, June 23, on ESPN.
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