How NBA experts graded Yaxel Lendeborg draft pick by Warriors at No. 11 overall originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft is in the books, with the Warriors making just one addition at No. 11 overall.
As they look to push for another title run with Steph Curry’s career inching to a close, Golden State took one of the most experienced players in the draft in Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg. The 23-year-old forward was named a first-team All-American, Big Ten Player of the Year and also helped lead the Wolverines to an NCAA Tournament title.
Although his age deterred other teams from selecting him earlier, the Warriors have received positive reviews for the selection.
Let’s take a look at what some of the most well-respected minds in the draft space have said about the Warriors’ latest addition.
Sam Vecenie and John Hollinger, The Athletic
There are plenty of draft experts around the world, but it’s difficult to find anyone who dives as deeply into each draft class as Sam Vecenie. The Athletic’s draft insider releases an annual draft guide in which he ranks the top 100 players and groups them into tiers ranging from “Headliners” to “Lower-end.”
Vecenie ranked Lendeborg as the No. 9 player overall, which falls under the “starter” category. Despite admitting that Lendeborg isn’t the most advanced creator, he did deem him to be ready to be in an NBA rotation immediately.
“There are some limitations with Lendeborg as a true creator, but it’s hard to find a player more ready-made to step into an NBA rotation,” Vecenie wrote. “He’s a monster defender with legitimate plus-plus tools in terms of size and length at 6 feet 9 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan and the fluidity to slide his feet laterally. I would bet on him maxing out just below the level of All-Defensive, but I don’t think I can completely rule it out if he really decides he wants to be a stopper.”
The Athletic’s front-office insider, John Hollinger, gave the selection an “A-,” expressing that Lendeborg doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but will be ready to play right away.
“I love this pick for the Warriors, and I suspect the Thunder front office (picking next) does not,” Hollinger wrote. “Lendeborg is an older player, but he is a ready-made, Day 1 starter who can fill minutes at three positions and fits nicely on a team that is on a win-now trajectory. He doesn’t have the long-term upside of some other guys, but in terms of Year 1 impact, he may rival anyone in this draft.”
Kevin O’Connor, Yahoo Sports
Another extremely high mark for the Warriors, Yahoo Sports’ NBA Senior Analyst Kevin gave Golden State an “A.”
He highlighted Lendeborg’s tremendous journey from not playing varsity basketball in high school to becoming one of the best college basketball players in the country. However, what appears to stand out to O’Connor is Lendeborg’s versatility.
“He fills the stat sheet, he can play multiple positions, and he has a 7-foot-4 wingspan at 240 pounds with a genuine handle. He’ll be 24 as a rookie, but that aspect could be appealing to Steve Kerr, who re-signed for a two-year deal,” O’Connor wrote. “Yaxel comes in ready. Whether his story ends with NBA stardom is still up for debate.”
Zach Buckley, Bleacher Report
While some have been able to ignore the fact that Lendeborg will be 24 by the time he plays his first career game, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley was not in that category. He gave the pick a B-, which is tied for the worst grade given by the experts featured.
“It’s a truly fascinating profile; it just happens to be attached to someone who will turn 24 before next season starts. Lendeborg is older than Jonathan Kuminga, who’s already five seasons deep into his NBA career,” Buckley wrote. “History hasn’t been kind to lottery picks who are as seasoned as Lendeborg.”
Kevin Sweeney, Sports Illustrated
Similar to Buckley, Kevin Sweeney of Sports Illustrated cited the history of older lottery picks as his reasoning for giving the Warriors a “B-.”
“If there was a place that could afford to draft a guy who turns 24 before he’ll make his NBA debut, it’s Golden State, which is attempting to make one more run building around Stephen Curry,” Sweeney said. “Lendeborg should be an instant-impact player, someone who can guard multiple positions, make perimeter shots and dominate in transition. And Lendeborg going to a situation where he’ll have plenty of proven veterans around him to help him mature is perhaps the best-case scenario for the Michigan product. Still, the track record for players this old returning lottery-level value is very poor.”
Dalton Johnson, NBC Sports Bay Area
After yet another underwhelming season, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy made it clear that Golden State is lacking in every department. In the eyes of NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dalton Johnson, Lendeborg is a Swiss-army knife kind of player who can solve multiple problems.
“By all accounts, Lendeborg is a plug-and-play pick who should be able to have a big role from Day 1 for Golden State. General manager Mike Dunleavy has admitted the Warriors “need everything,” and Lendeborg does a little bit of everything,” Johnson wrote. “Throughout his college career, he showcased his two-way impact in an NBA-ready frame.”
He gave the selection an “A-,” and unlike those who think Lendeborg doesn’t have much room for growth because of age, Johnson thinks that Lendeborg still has a level he hasn’t reached yet.
“That kind of growth and development against the highest competition shows that Lendeborg still has upside to tap into despite being on the older side. He plays winning basketball that Steve Kerr and a veteran locker room will love. He led the country in plus/minus, and ranked second in win shares.”
Bryan Kalbrosky, USA TODAY
On the bright side for Warriors fans, the only consistent criticism for Lendeborg is that he is old. However, USA TODAY’s Bryan Kalbrosky, who gave them a “B,” is on board with it being a potentially career-debilitating factor.
“But this time around, they chose experience to help Stephen Curry win while the two-time MVP is still in the Bay Area,” Kalbrosky wrote. “Perhaps the most NBA-ready prospect, the NCAA champion can make a positive impact. Unfortunately, though, the history of older rookies in recent league history is a big risk for the front office with this lottery pick.”
Adam Finkelstein, CBS Sports
Not only did CBS Sports’ Adam Finkelstein give the Warriors a “B-,” but he also thinks they took the wrong Michigan player.
“The questions about Lendeborg are tied to his upside since he will turn 24-years-old before playing in his first NBA game,” Finkelstein wrote.Very solid ball-handler for his size but more of a straight-line driver than dynamic creator or change of direction play. Aday Mara would have been a better roster fit here for the Warriors.”
Mara is Lendenborg’s 7-foot-3 college teammate who was taken one pick later by the Oklahoma City Thunder, who will presumably hope he can develop into the kryptonite of Victor Wembanyama.
Only time will tell if the Warriors made the right pick, but overall, there don’t seem to be too many doubts.
