Yaxel Lendeborg hasn’t even played a real NBA game yet, but he’s already looking exactly like the kind of player the Warriors love to have on the floor. His first bucket in the Las Vegas Summer League came on a fast break against the Dallas Mavericks, and it was basically a Golden State signature play.
Lendeborg spotted up in the corner, wide open, and when the pass arrived he didn’t hesitate. A defender closed out hard, but the 23-year-old forward still knocked down the triple with some confidence. It was the kind of catch-and-shoot look that Draymond Green or Andrew Wiggins might get when Steph Curry draws all the attention. For a rookie, it was a pretty clear sign that Lendeborg understands the system already.
ClutchPoints tweeted the clip and fans online immediately started talking about how natural the shot looked within the Warriors’ motion offense. That’s exactly what Golden State’s front office was betting on when they picked him.
From Michigan’s Title Run to the Warriors’ Bench
Lendeborg just finished a monster season at Michigan, helping the Wolverines win a national championship in 2025-26. He averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 51.5% from the floor and 37.2% from three. Those numbers earned him First-Team All-American honors, and the Warriors clearly see him as one of the most pro-ready rookies in this class.
The plan right now is for Lendeborg to come off the bench behind Draymond Green at power forward. But if he can keep hitting threes with that kind of consistency, his role could grow faster than originally expected. The Warriors have always valued forwards who can space the floor, move without the ball, and make quick decisions. Lendeborg checks all three boxes.
Summer League Is Just the Beginning
We’ll get a long look at Lendeborg throughout the rest of Summer League, which gives him a nice runway to adjust to the speed and physicality of the NBA before the regular season tips off in October. For a rookie coming off a national title, this is about as good a development situation as you could ask for.
One bucket doesn’t mean anything by itself. But the way that first one happened — fast break, quick trigger, no fear — it looked like Lendeborg already knows what the Warriors want from him.
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