Yaxel Lendeborg cried when the Golden State Warriors made him the No. 11 pick of the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday. In the post-draft interview, he was appreciative of the Warriors for making him their lottery selection.
While the former Michigan Wolverines star is excited to make an immediate impact, he knows that Warriors coach Steve Kerr’s track record of playing rookies could pose a challenge.
Yaxel Lendeborg Shares Honest Thoughts on Steve Kerr’s Track Record With Rookies
Lendeborg was at the Chase Center on Friday for his introductory press conference with fellow rookie Lajae Jones, a second-rounder from Florida State.
The 6-foot-9 forward, who led Michigan to the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball championship, opened up about his first conversation with Kerr heading into the presser.
“Basically just being about expectations, what he expects out of me. He doesn’t normally play rookies as much. He has a history of that. But the way the team is looking right now, I’m going to have a really good chance to play, maybe even start,” Lendeborg told the media, via Warriors insider Anthony Slater.
Yaxel Lendeborg on his early conversations with Steve Kerr: “He doesn’t normally play rookies as much. He has a history of that. But the way the team is looking right now, I’m going to have a really good chance to play, maybe even start.” pic.twitter.com/Vm1DXhkjUO
– Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) June 26, 2026
The 23-year-old forward, the oldest player drafted in the first round of the 2026 Draft, was spot on with his assessment of Kerr.
Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, James Wiseman, and Brandin Podziemski struggled to get consistent playing time from the multi-titled coach.
However, Lendeborg might have just arrived at the perfect time to earn significant minutes in his first year with the Bay Area team.
Jimmy Butler (torn ACL) and Moses Moody (torn patellar tendon) are uncertain to play next season, depleting Golden State’s wing. Will Richard is still on the roster, but he is a little undersized, and the Warriors need more healthy bodies to compete.
Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. also gave a glimpse of what Lendeborg could give the team, via an interview with NBC Sports’ Monte Poole.
“He can play everything. Potentially, he can guard 1 to 5. Offensively, I think he’s a forward that can play some small-ball center. And just the way he handles the ball, there’s some backcourt ball-handler responsibilities he can take care of. This is the intrigue with this pick for us is the versatility.”
While some teams might have been hesitant to draft Lendeborg because of his age, the Warriors couldn’t pass up on a forward with a polished and mature game. They can’t wait for years to develop a rookie, who is expected to contribute in Steph Curry’s championship window at age 38.
Kerr’s core of Curry, Butler (36), and Draymond Green (36), who is expected to exercise his $27.7 million player option, needs plug-and-play reinforcements. While the Warriors are looking for veteran help, Lendeborg could compete for regular minutes.
The confident former Michigan star might be an exception, if he stands out, to Kerr’s reputation of refusing to hand rookies major minutes.
