Yaxel Lendeborg is taking the NBA by storm. The 6’9” forward is making a serious case for NBA Rookie of the Year in a class that has been lauded as one of the best in recent memory. After a breakout season at Michigan where he led the Wolverines to the National Championship, questions remained about what kind of pro Lendeborg could become.
Yaxel Lendeborg Is Making His Presence Felt In The NBA
Lendeborg got off to an interesting start in game one of his NBA career. Squaring off against the Los Angeles Lakers, he took it upon himself to guard Luka Doncic. Apparently, Doncic wasn’t impressed that the Warriors put a rookie on him and took the matter personally. He and Lendeborg proceeded to have a knockdown, drag-out matchup that saw the veteran get the best of the rookie several times. Lendeborg never backed down from the matchup, though, and no doubt earned more respect from his teammates and coaches.
After a rough start that saw the Warriors go 0-3 to begin the season, Lendeborg was told to be more aggressive on offense. That directive came directly from stars Draymond Green and Steph Curry, as well as Head Coach Steve Kerr. Lendeborg stepped up and proceeded to record a career-high 37 points in a Warriors’ win that started a five-game winning streak.
Lendeborg is 24 years old and took a circuitous path to the NBA. He started off in junior college before a stint at UAB helped showcase his athleticism and scoring prowess. It was his decision to suit up for the Michigan Wolverines as a highly sought-after transfer, however, that put Lendeborg’s name into the national spotlight.
The 2026 Wolverines were a juggernaut on both offense and defense, with Lendeborg leading the way on both ends of the court. He could be seen chasing down opponents for spectacular blocks, snatching steals, and scoring both inside and from beyond the 3-point arc.
Still, questions remained. Namely, it was more than likely that it was Lendeborg’s age (23 at the time he was drafted) that raised questions about whether the forward had reached his peak. The Warriors, however, were excited to see Lendeborg drop to the 11th pick in the 2026 NBA draft. They saw him as a plug-and-play player who could step in and fit in where needed, providing another scoring option and a defensive stopper.
Lendeborg Compares Favorably To One NBA Legend
Lendeborg possesses a rare combination of athleticism, talent, and an undeniable work ethic. The rookie can often be heard in interviews asking for advice on how to get better and improve his game. This maturity is one of the attributes that the Warriors’ executives appreciated about him when he was scouted.
Lendeborg’s skill set is reminiscent of another gifted athlete and six-time NBA champion, Scottie Pippen. They have a similar build; slender but muscular and strong, with abundant quickness for someone their size. Lendeborg is a much better shooter than Pippen was at this point in his career, but it’s on the defensive side where they are most similar.
Pippen and Lendeborg both possess world-class athleticism, as well as quickness and strength. With their length, both could be nuisances for their opponents on defense, tracking down players to block layups, harassing the opponent’s best player full court, and being a monster on the glass.
With his newfound notoriety around the NBA, it will be interesting to see how Lendeborg deals with his success. It seems to have caught even some in the Warriors’ organization off guard, including Kerr. Combining his maturity with his ability to impact the game on both ends of the court, however, it’s easy to see Lendeborg as a future all-star and what some in the Warriors’ organization are already calling the next face of the franchise.
