Yaxel Lendeborg scored a career-high 37 points with six assists on November 1, 2026, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 124–112 win over the Los Angeles Clippers with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green sidelined. The 24-year-old rookie, the 11th overall pick of the 2026 NBA draft, has made one of the most remarkable entrances in recent league history: a former warehouse worker who was cut from his high school team as a freshman, he became an NCAA champion at Michigan before becoming the Warriors’ most exciting young player.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Yaxel Okari Lendeborg |
| Born | September 30, 2002 |
| Age | 24 years old |
| Birthplace | Puerto Rico |
| Height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Weight | 247 lb (112 kg) |
| Position | Small forward / power forward |
| Current Team | Golden State Warriors |
| NBA Debut | 2026 |
| Draft | 2026, 1st round, 11th overall (Golden State) |
Who Is Yaxel Lendeborg?
Yaxel Lendeborg, whose full name is Yaxel Okari Lendeborg, is an American-Dominican professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association. Drafted 11th overall in 2026, he was the oldest first-round pick in his draft class after a long road through junior college and two college programs, capped by an NCAA championship with Michigan in 2026.
Lendeborg plays as a forward and wears number 1 for Golden State. He was named the NBA Summer League most valuable player in 2026 and scored 87 points across his first four NBA games, the most by a Warriors rookie since Wilt Chamberlain in 1959–60.
Early Life & Background
Yaxel Okari Lendeborg was born on September 30, 2002, in Puerto Rico. Both of his parents played for the Dominican Republic national basketball team. He moved to Ohio at age two and to Pennsauken Township, New Jersey, at age eight.
At Pennsauken High School, Lendeborg was cut from the team as a freshman because of poor grades and played only 11 varsity games as a senior. After high school, he worked in a warehouse before his basketball career took off at Arizona Western College, where he was named an NJCAA All-American.
Career & Journey
Lendeborg played at Arizona Western from 2020 to 2023, then transferred to UAB, where he was a two-time first-team All-AAC selection, a two-time AAC Defensive Player of the Year and the 2024 AAC tournament most valuable player. He then transferred to Michigan for the 2025–26 season, where he was a consensus first-team All-American, the Big Ten Player of the Year and an NCAA champion in 2026.
Golden State selected Lendeborg 11th overall in the 2026 NBA draft, and he was named Summer League MVP. He made his NBA debut on October 21, 2026, scoring 12 points against the Los Angeles Lakers, and on October 26 he posted 31 points, 12 rebounds and six assists against Denver.
Lendeborg’s breakout continued on November 1, 2026, when his career-high 37 points and six assists carried Golden State past the Los Angeles Clippers 124–112 with Curry and Green sidelined. Per The Athletic, it was the most points by a Warriors rookie since Stephen Curry scored 42 on April 14, 2010.
Facts About Yaxel Lendeborg
- Lendeborg was cut from his high school team as a freshman and played only 11 varsity games as a senior.
- He worked in a warehouse after high school before his college basketball career began.
- Lendeborg was a two-time AAC Defensive Player of the Year at UAB.
- He was the oldest first-round pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
- His 37 points on November 1, 2026, were the most by a Warriors rookie since Stephen Curry in 2010.
How old is Yaxel Lendeborg?
Yaxel Lendeborg is 24 years old. He was born on September 30, 2002, in Puerto Rico.
Which team does Yaxel Lendeborg play for?
Yaxel Lendeborg plays for the Golden State Warriors, who drafted him 11th overall in the 2026 NBA draft.
What did Yaxel Lendeborg do against the LA Clippers?
On November 1, 2026, Yaxel Lendeborg scored a career-high 37 points with six assists in Golden State’s 124-112 win over the LA Clippers.
Where did Yaxel Lendeborg go to college?
Yaxel Lendeborg played at Arizona Western, UAB and Michigan, where he won the NCAA championship in 2026.
When was Yaxel Lendeborg drafted?
Yaxel Lendeborg was drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the 11th overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
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