Add The California Post on Google Yaxel Lendeborg has yet to play a minute in the NBA but already has his eyes on a player he wants to “lock up.”
The X account @EnjoyBBall posted a video that featured Lendeborg.
The Warriors rookie forward paused to think about who he’d want to face, and he revealed it to be the team’s former two-time NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant.
Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg sitting courtside during a WNBA game. NBAE via Getty Images “I want to lock up everybody I guard up, obviously,” Lendeborg said. “… Probably KD, man; I want to try to lock him up, see what I can do.”
Lendeborg said that given his 6-foot, 9-inch frame and weighing 230 pounds, he believes Durant would give him a good matchup just because of their size similarities. Durant is 6-11 and weighs 240.
Lendeborg grew up a Cavaliers fan, idolizing Kyrie Irving, and both of Durant’s Finals MVPs came against the Cavaliers.
Before entering the NBA draft, Lendeborg built a reputation as a strong, versatile defender in college. He finished last season averaging 6.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game for Michigan.
Lendeborg’s college basketball career began as a junior college product at Arizona Western College, and he attended UAB for two seasons and later transferred to Michigan, where he helped lead the Wolverines to an NCAA championship against UConn.
During Michigan’s Sweet 16 matchup against Alabama, he put on a clinic with 12 rebounds, two steals, seven assists and 23 points in 34 minutes.
Kevin Durant and Steph Curry as members of the Golden State Warriors. AP The Warriors are scheduled to report for training camp on Sept. 29 and hope Lendeborg is a spark plug for their veteran-led team, centered around future Hall of Famer Steph Curry.
Over the summer, Lendeborg made his presence felt across the Warriors’ organization after helping lead the team to an NBA summer league championship and being crowned the game’s MVP.
Aside from lining up across from Durant, Lendeborg also named Irving, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo as other NBA players he hopes to guard one day.
“All because they’re similar to my height, besides Kyrie and, you know, very fluid. So very excited about those,” Lendeborg said.
