You can envision it now: “With the 10th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks select… Yaxel Lendeborg.” And, unlike 10 years ago, you don’t have to squint to see it working out.
After three years with Arizona Western in the NJCAA, Lendeborg transferred to the University of Alabama at Birmingham for two seasons before playing for the University of Michigan this season, where he posted 15.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 1.1 BPG on .515/.372/.824 splits. A 6’9”, 240 lb forward with a 7’3”
wingspan, Lendeborg was instrumental throughout Michigan’s NCAA tournament run. And although not as dominant in the final—13 points (4/13), two boards, one assist, and one block—he still played a pivotal role as the Wolverines clinched the championship 69-63.
As an NBA player, Lendeborg projects as a modern four, though he could conceivably play the three in bigger lineups. He certainly has the shooting stroke, court vision, and versatility to do so. And, of course, he can guard. As far as weakness go, critics tend to cite his age—he’ll be 24 in September—as a potential limitation, with concerns that his standout play came against typically much younger (and less physically developed) competition. Still, he’s generally seen as a plug and play, high-floor option—and the Bucks know a thing or two about the value 24-year-old rookies can bring (shoutout to The President).
Off the court, you’d be best served hearing from the man himself. Lendeborg’s February article in The Players’ Tribune, How My Mom Saved My Life, is a beautifully honest ode to his mother and confession of his own need to change his ways. It’s an emotional read, one well worth your time, showcasing a level of vulnerability that is seldom offered by athletes. All of it carries weight, but Lendeborg’s insight on his transfer from UAB to Michigan is particularly illuminating:
But I’ll tell you the truth about all of that. Every coach I talked to, I’d listen close to see what they were emphasizing most. And I know this is gonna maybe sound crazy, or you maybe might not believe me … but if a coach was focused most on the dollar amount they were offering, I’d cross that school off my list. Because what I cared most about was how a program would make me a better player, and help me to grow into a better NBA prospect. Like, for me … all the money that places were offering was more than I’d ever imagined seeing in my entire life. It was all life-changing money to me. So then it became: Where will I be the happiest? Which school will allow me to grow as a player and person?
With Taylor Jenkins at the helm, and player development extraordinaire Joe Boylan also on board, Milwaukee might just be the place that allows Lendeborg to grow most as a player and person in the league.
Of course, as with everything this off-season, any prospect’s fit is dependent upon Milwaukee’s direction. Thankfully, Lendeborg fits both feasible futures. With Giannis, he’d make a strong backup—at least to begin—able to contribute right away as a Swiss Army knife while learning the game from one of the best to ever do it. He’d also be able to share the court with Giannis in either small-ball or bigger lineups, giving the Bucks much needed optionality in the front court.
On the flip side, should the Bucks opt to reset, Lendeborg could easily be thrust into a more prominent role as a starter. In this scenario, he’d pair well with the similarly-aged Ryan Rollins and Ousmane Dieng—and whatever other returns the Bucks get—to form a young and exciting rebuild under Jenkins’ tutelage.
What do you make of the national champion out of Michigan? Does Lendeborg make your wish-list for the Bucks at 10? Or is he old news? Add your thoughts in the comments and vote for who you’d take next in our draft.
