Why The Warriors picked Yaxel Lendeborg In the NBA Draft
ClutchPoints NBA Insiders Tomer Azarly and Brett Siegel discuss the latest on why the Golden State Warriors selected Yaxel Lendeborg with the 11th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Video Transcript
With the 11th pick in the 2026 NBA draft, the Golden State Warriors selected Yaksa Lendenberg out of Michigan to be the guy to pair alongside Steph Curry in the Warriors' pursuit of an NBA championship.
The Big Ten Player of the Year fits into what the Warriors wanna do right away, as the all-around forward can contribute both offensively and defensively on this Warriors squad.
Brett, what's your take on the Warriors selecting Yaksa Lendenberg with the 11th pick?
The Warriors had options with the 11th overall pick, and they had the luxury of waiting to see how the top 10 of this draft played out.
Both Marez Johnson Jr. and Braden Buries were two guys that the Warriors were targeting with the 11th overall pick, in addition to Yaksa Lendenberg.
Although they had been rumored to have interest in Adaire Mara, he was not going to be an option in this spot unless the Warriors traded the pick.
Once Marez Johnson went to the Dallas Mavericks with the ninth pick, the Warriors felt confident that Braden Buries was gonna fall to them, and he would've been the 11th overall pick.
Ultimately, the Milwaukee Bucks took him, and so with Yaksa Lendenberg being available there, a guy who can come in right away and aid Jimmy Butler, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green in their championship journeys, it made a ton of sense for the Warriors to keep this pick, make the selection, and add Yaksa Lendenberg.
He may be 24 years old, but this is a guy that can come in and play right away and contribute to a winning organization.
