Golden State Warriors fans celebrated at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco on Tuesday after their team snagged top prospect Yaxel Lendeborg in the 2026 NBA Draft.
With the No. 11 overall pick, the Warriors took Lendeborg, a 23-year-old 6-foot-9 forward who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines in college.
Before the draft, fans wearing Warriors jerseys, many bearing the name of superstar player Stephen Curry, anticipatedly watched the first round on a giant screen in the plaza. Some spread out on the lawn while others gathered at tables and in shaded areas surrounding the viewing area.
After Lendeborg’s name appeared on the giant screen, they cheered and applauded, voicing confidence that he could help the Warriors back into title contention as Curry, 38, enters the latter stages of his career.
Lendeborg arrives in the NBA after a college career that included conference player of the year and defensive player of the year honors at the University of Alabama at Birmingham before transferring to Michigan. The American-Dominican averaged a team-high 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists in 30.1 minutes per game in his 40 games for Michigan.
In his last year in Michigan, he helped the Wolverines win the NCAA men’s basketball championship. He was also a consensus first team All-American and a Big Ten Player of the Year for 2026.
Former Warriors player and NBC Sports Bay Area analyst Kelenna Azubuike said Lendeborg’s versatility and basketball IQ should make him a strong fit.
“He’s going to play bigger than he is,” Azubuike said in an interview. “He can play multiple positions, defend multiple positions, and he’s a great passer and rebounder.”
Warriors fan Diego Pulido, who attended the watch party, believes Lendeborg could help boost the team’s aspirations to get back into title contention, after the Warriors missed the last NBA playoffs.
“Steph’s getting older,” Pulido said. “We need somebody with a little more experience, and this just suits our team.”
With Curry, still leading the franchise but nearing the twilight of his career, fans hope Lendeborg can help bridge the gap between the Warriors’ championship past and their next chapter.
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