Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg scores 19 points in summer league debut

Yaxel Lendeborg, the Warriors' 2026 first-round draft selection, made his debut in a summer-league matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, contributing 19 points on 6-for-6 shooting, including four three-pointers, while also leading the team with five rebounds and six assists.

Lendeborg played 22 minutes in the 104-72 victory, adding a block and a steal. He said his defensive rotations needed work but felt his offensive performance was solid, noting he “played a fairly well game until the fourth quarter” and “went a little sloppy with four turnovers.”

Coach Khalid Robinson started Lendeborg alongside guards LJ Cryer and Will Richard, forward Malevy Leons and center Graham Ike. Robinson praised Lendeborg’s physicality, saying, "> I thought Yaxel played with a really high level of force and physicality. That was a point of emphasis for us all week, just force and physicality in everything that we do. Then, he showed a little bit of everything in his game."

Lendeborg’s confidence in his shooting was highlighted by his perfect three-point performance in the first quarter, where he made three consecutive attempts. He credited recent improvements at Michigan for his confidence, stating, "> This has been all about confidence. Honestly, I never really had the confidence to shoot it until last year at Michigan. And now here, I feel a lot more confident shooting the ball here."

The Warriors held a 57-33 lead at halftime, with Lendeborg accounting for 16 points, three assists, four rebounds and a steal in the first half. He saw limited action in the second half after establishing his impact early.

The performance addressed the Warriors' interest in a rookie who could contribute immediately across multiple skill areas, a factor that influenced their decision to select Lendeborg in the draft.