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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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It was a special night for the top basketball prospects, as the 2026 NBA draft took place in Brooklyn, New York, creating memorable moments for the next potential stars, including Yaxel Lendeborg.
With the No. 11 pick, the Golden State Warriors selected the Michigan Wolverines star, who is coming off a thrilling championship season. It was clearly an emotional moment for Lendeborg, who became teary-eyed after being drafted and during his first interview with ESPN's Lisa Salters.
"Every emotion possible," he told Salters about what was going through his heart at the moment. "I don't deserve to be here right now ... I'm truly unworthy. I can't believe it."
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Lendeborg definitely deserves to be there based on his college basketball resume. He averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game for Michigan during a season that resulted in the National Championship.
He's an older, more experienced player after three seasons of college basketball, which helped him develop a reliable shot, along with defensive versatility and effective playmaking skills.
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Lendeborg's reaction is what NBA Draft night is all about — a realization of big dreams after years of hard work. He'll now join a Warriors team that was on the cusp of returning to the postseason behind Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
That team had a string of unfortunate injuries last season, including multi-time All-Star Jimmy Butler, who came over to the Warriors as a major component of their postseason aspirations.
In addition to Butler suffering a season-ending torn right ACL, teammate Moses Moody also went down with a season-ending ruptured left patellar tendon, further hindering the Warriors' roster and playoff hopes.
Ahead of the offseason, speculation popped up about Golden State potentially going after another major star, such as LeBron James or Kawhi Leonard, which could further build this into a contending squad. It remains unclear if they'll continue to pursue one of these stars, someone else, or go with the roster they have.
Either way, Lendeborg is now part of an immediate playoff-contending team, where he'll not only lend his talents but also learn from the experienced vets around him.
Lendeborg's statement about feeling unworthy after being drafted shows the type of person he is, with a lot of humility compared to other picks who maintained that they should be the top choice. It likely played a big part in the Warriors' choice to make him their No. 11 pick and a key addition to their roster.
The Michigan Wolverine standout seems like the type of talented player who could emerge as a future star in the league based on a strong work ethic and proven skill set over three solid seasons of college basketball.
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