Warriors Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg Got Honest About Facing His Old Teammate and the Video Is Gold

Yaxel Lendeborg walked off the court in Las Vegas with a 25-point win and a confession he couldn’t keep to himself.

The Golden State Warriors rookie and former Michigan Wolverines star just faced off against his old college teammate Aday Mara for the first time as an NBA opponent. It was Sunday night in Summer League, Warriors against the Thunder, and Lendeborg’s squad rolled to a 104-79 blowout. But the postgame interview is what people are still talking about.

A reporter asked Lendeborg if he made the adjustments he wanted to at halftime — specifically, not having too much fun out there with Mara, his buddy from that 2026 national championship run at Michigan.

“I did not,” Lendeborg said, straight-faced.

That clip is already circulating. Barstool Michigan posted it. Fans ate it up. Because honestly, who wants to lock in against a guy you won a title with? Lendeborg admitted he didn’t even try.

How the Game Actually Went

The Warriors dominated from start to finish. Six different Golden State players hit double figures. Lendeborg put up 14 points, four assists, three steals and two rebounds. Nick Boyd matched him with 14 points and two dimes. Lachlan Olbrich chipped in 14 and four boards. Graham Ike nearly had a double-double with 11 points and eight rebounds.

The Thunder, for their part, never really found a rhythm. Mara finished with a quiet stat line, and Oklahoma City couldn’t keep pace.

Lendeborg was the 11th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, a reward for a standout college career that ended with Michigan cutting down the nets. Mara went in the first round too, landing with the Thunder as a intriguing frontcourt prospect. This Summer League game was their first real taste of going head-to-head as pros.

You can tell they’re still friends. Lendeborg didn’t pretend otherwise.

What’s Next for Golden State in Summer League

The Warriors are still perfect in Las Vegas. They’ll look to keep that streak alive when they face the Memphis Grizzlies on July 14 at 7 p.m. ET. Lendeborg and the rest of the young guys will get another run to prove themselves before training camp rolls around.

But for one night, the best moment wasn’t a dunk or a steal. It was a rookie admitting he couldn’t help but have fun with an old friend.