Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, the 11th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, has begun settling in with his new team and humorously reacted to being assigned a locker next to future Hall of Famer Steph Curry.
During his introductory news conference this week, Lendeborg joked about his locker's placement, asking, "Did y’all do this on purpose right here?" The former Michigan star admitted that he grew up as a fan of Kyrie Irving and did not root for Curry during his childhood.
Despite his past allegiances, Lendeborg expressed joy and emotion upon seeing his locker and jersey for the first time. He received encouragement from those around him, including second-round pick Lajae Jones, with someone suggesting that proximity to Curry might help his shooting skills. Lendeborg responded with enthusiasm, stating, "I need that. I definitely need that."
Lendeborg was visibly moved by the experience of holding his Warriors jersey, admitting he was on the verge of tears. Jones also shared in the disbelief as the two young players realized their NBA dreams were becoming a reality.