The start of the 2026 NBA Draft is less than two weeks away, which means the Golden State Warriors are working hard to decide what to do with their picks. Mainly, their first-round pick, which lands at No. 11 this year … a number that has produced some elite talent over the years.
Most pre-draft workouts — such as the ones the Warriors reportedly had two weeks ago — feature less-heralded players. Many of the prospects projected to be in play with lottery picks skip individual workouts, with teams
already having loads of information on them. Most workouts are for potential second-round picks and undrafted free agents to impress and form relationships with teams.
But there are always a few big-name players whose workouts get reported, and one is headed to the Bay Area. According to reporter Marc Stein, the Dubs will work out Michigan star big man Yaxel Lendeborg on Thursday.
Lendeborg has become a popular pick to end up on the Warriors in recent mock drafts. SB Nation’s own draft expert Ricky O’Donnell mocked the 6’9 NCAA champion to the Dubs, saying that he “has unique physical gifts that will help him adjust to the NBA level quickly.”
The Puerto Rico-born Lendeborg is only projected to be available to the Warriors because of his age. He spent three years at a junior college before transferring to the University of Alabama at Birmingham for two seasons, and ending his career with one title-lifting year at Michigan. Lendeborg was unquestionably one of the top players in college basketball last year, as he was a consensus First Team All-American, as well as the Big Ten Player of the Year, but he’ll turn 24 right about as his first NBA training camp is getting underway.
That could make him the perfect fit on the Warriors, who are still chasing superstars, and hoping to build one more NBA Finals contender around Steph Curry. Lendeborg, who is talented defensively on both the perimeter and interior, can score in a variety of ways, and is very polished, would likely slot right into the rotation, as he figures to be one of the most NBA-ready players in the draft. But, despite his age, there’s also a belief by many that Lendeborg has a lot of untapped potential, and has a star ceiling rather than just a high floor.
We’ll have to wait until June 23 to see if Lendeborg is still available at No. 11, and if the Warriors take him if he is. But after Thursday, they should have a better idea as to whether they want to or not.
