Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who has yet to play in an NBA game, has identified a prominent player he intends to challenge defensively: former two-time NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant.
In a video shared on the X account @EnjoyBBall, Lendeborg stated his ambition to "lock up" Durant. "Probably KD, man; I want to try to lock him up, see what I can do," Lendeborg said. He cited their similar physical attributes—Lendeborg stands 6-foot-9 and weighs 230 pounds, while Durant is 6-foot-11 and weighs 240 pounds—as a reason why Durant would present a compelling matchup.
Lendeborg, who grew up as a Cavaliers fan and idolized Kyrie Irving, noted that both of Durant's Finals MVP awards came against the Cavaliers. Before entering the NBA draft, Lendeborg established a reputation as a strong defender in college. During his last season at Michigan, he averaged 6.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. His collegiate career included stops at Arizona Western College, UAB, and Michigan, where he was part of the team that won an NCAA championship against UConn.
The Warriors are anticipating Lendeborg's contribution as a spark plug for their veteran-led team, which is centered around future Hall of Famer Steph Curry. The team is scheduled to report for training camp on September 29. This summer, Lendeborg showcased his potential by helping the Warriors win an NBA summer league championship and earning MVP honors for that tournament.
Beyond Durant, Lendeborg also mentioned Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, and Giannis Antetokounmpo as other NBA players he hopes to guard in the future, noting their fluidity and comparable height as factors that excite him about potential matchups.