This basketball offseason, more and more, we’ve seen players who initially entered the NBA Draft process change their mind and return to college, allegedly due to extravagant NIL deals.
The latest to follow this path is Yaxel Lendeborg, a projected first-round pick who shocked many by choosing Michigan over an NBA contract. Despite being projected as a first-round selection after a solid season at UAB, his decision to withdraw from the NBA Draft left everyone in awe.
Now, an analyst has disclosed the reason behind the rise in NBA Draft withdrawals, using Lendeborg as a key example.
Analyst Reveals Truth Behind NBA Draft Withdrawals After Yaxel Lendeborg Joins Michigan
UAB forward Yaxel Lendeborg, once expected to be a first-round NBA Draft pick, has decided to withdraw from the 2025 Draft. Instead, he has chosen to transfer to Michigan for another year of college ball.
BREAKING: Michigan commit Yaxel Lendeborg is withdrawing from the NBA Draft and will play for Dusty May and the Wolverines next season, he told @On3sports.
Lendeborg was the No. 1 ranked player in the portal and averaged 17.7 PTS, 11.4 REB, & 4.2 AST per game this season at… pic.twitter.com/GSOWrHNMEJ
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) May 27, 2025
Lendeborg explained that personal and athletic development motivated his decision. However, many believe that NIL deals played a major role behind the scenes because Michigan offered him a $3 million deal, which provides strong financial security.
Analysts recently discussed Lendeborg’s surprising move on “The Field of 68: After Dark” podcast.
As host Rob Dauster said, “Yaxel Lindenborg coming back to Michigan is probably the one that caught me by the most surprise.”
Responding to that remark, co-host Jeff Goodman added, “Yeah, I mean a little bit, a little bit. I think most people thought, you know, from listening to him, he was more in than out. But at the end of the day, I think a lot of these guys that are projected to go in that 20-to-40 range. They’re waiting for some sort of guarantee that’s not going to be there.”
That’s where NIL deals come into play. The former UAB standout is expected to earn $3 million through NIL at Michigan. That kind of money is hard to pass up, especially when a first-round selection isn’t guaranteed.
Goodman explained further, “And then they look over there like Yaxel does, and he’s seeing $3 million guaranteed. That is a guarantee of about $3 million on the table to go to Michigan and play high-major basketball, which he’s never played in his life.”
This decision follows a growing trend. More players are staying in college longer. They’re using that time to boost their draft stock while earning through NIL. The Michigan transfer is not alone in the mix. Danny Wolf did the same last year. He transferred to Michigan and saw a huge jump in value under coach Dusty May.
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Dauster continued the conversation, “When you are Yaxel, and you’re looking at what Dusty May was able to do last year with Danny Wolf and turn him from like a guy that was an interesting player at Yale that no one really felt was going to be all that much in the Big Ten into a guy that is actually going to be a top-20 pick this year… It’s very easy to understand why that decision was made and the thought process that he went through.”
Lendeborg, who played for UAB, had a dominant season, averaging 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.7 steals per game. He was one of the most productive players in college basketball, making his withdrawal from the NBA Draft seem illogical at first glance.
Experts predict that this is part of a changing landscape, where more players hesitate to turn pro without guaranteed first-round selections. However, the overall impact may not be beneficial for the game, as the NBA just lost a potential first-round pick for a surprisingly preventable reason.
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