Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg was drafted 11th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, but he didn’t waste any time revealing that he wasn’t the biggest fan of Warriors icon Stephen Curry growing up.
Yaxel Lendeborg on playing with Stephen Curry:
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"It's a full-circle moment for me. In 2016, I'm a big Kyrie guy, so I used to hate Steph Curry." pic.twitter.com/Gjir5ZIC1P
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) June 24, 2026
“I’m a big Kyrie [Irving] guy,” he said on Tuesday. “So I used to hate Steph Curry.”
Lendeborg was 13 years old back in 2016, when the infamous rivalry between the Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers was taking hold.
It was the second year of a four-year stretch in which the two squads faced off in the NBA Finals and Lendeborg was rooting for Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
That year, Irving made one of the biggest shots in NBA history, sinking a lead-taking three with less than a minute to play in the winner-takes-all Game 7.
While Lendeborg was rooting for Irving back then, he’s now honored and excited to play alongside Curry on the Warriors.
“Now that I’m actually going to be able to be on the same team with him, play and actually learn so much from him, it means a lot,” he said. “He’s a very great guy, genuine person. It’s going to be an honor to be able to watch what he does in person.”
The 23-year-old is coming off a storybook season for the Michigan Wolverines, averaging 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists while capturing a national championship.
His impressive campaign helped him win the Big Ten Player of the Year award and make the All-American First Team.
As a gritty do-it-all wing that can make major contributions on both ends of the floor, he seems to be a strong fit with Curry and the Warriors.
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
