Yaxel Lendeborg and his journey to the NBA hit him all at once just moments before his first Summer League game with the Golden State Warriors.
The 23-year-old rookie, who Golden State selected with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, admitted he nearly broke down in tears while riding the team bus to the game in Las Vegas.
“When we were going to the game in Vegas, I was about to cry on the bus,” Lendeborg told The Athletic’s Nick Friedell. “Like, this is crazy. I’m about to play in the summer league in Vegas in front of a bunch of people … Three or four tears kind of like dripped from the eye, but I was on a bus with a bunch of guys. They don’t even know me. They barely know me, so I can’t just be crying for no reason.”
It was a surreal moment for Lendeborg, who had barely watched Summer League before reaching the NBA himself.
His first real experience following the competition came just last year, when he watched Cooper Flagg play for the Dallas Mavericks. Twelve months later, Lendeborg wasn’t watching anymore, he was one of the tournament’s biggest stars.
The former Michigan standout averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and four assists while helping the Warriors win the Summer League championship and earning MVP honors.
That performance came after a long battle to truly believe he belonged at this level.
“This is my first year actually going through having a full year of confidence, I guess you could say,” Lendeborg told Friedell. “I’ve never been a confident kid. So, actually having this time to believe in myself — it means a lot to me, and I’m trying my best to not lose that no matter what goes on.”
Lendeborg’s path included junior college basketball in Yuma, Arizona, two seasons at UAB and a championship run at Michigan before finally reaching Golden State.
Now, he’s learning to deal with everything that comes with being an NBA player.
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