Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleave appeared to get into it in Tuesday’s NBA draft round one. The Warriors had the No. 11 pick in the draft. They had options to either trade it or make a selection. For now, the Golden State chose Yaxel Lendeberg with their pick.
ESPN showed footage of the Warriors’ draft war room during their selection, showing Dunleavy and Lacob seemingly having an altercation. They appeared to have an intense conversation before Dunleavy got on a call. On the other hand, Lacob looked frustrated with the interaction, throwing his arms up. Here’s the video:
According to insider Jake Fischer, the Warriors contemplated trading the pick and fielded offers for it. However, once they drafted Yaxel Lendeberg, Fischer reported that they were staying put.
The Warriors reportedly had Trey Murphy as one of their draft-day trade targets. According to insider Sam Amick, the Warriors and Hawks discussed trading their respective picks for him. The Hawks had the No. 8 pick. They also stayed put and drafted Kingston Flemings.
Yexel Lendeborg gets emotional after landing on Golden State Warriors
Yexel Lendeborg was as emotional as anyone after hearing his name called on day one of the NBA draft. Lendeborg and his mother were in tears during his post-selection interview as he expressed his disbelief at making it to the NBA with the Golden State Warriors.
“I don’t deserve to be here right now … didn’t have the traditional path … I can’t believe it,” he said.
Lendeberg didn’t plan to attend college after high school. He was working in a warehouse, but his mom pushed him to go to school. Lendeberg’s path was unusual in college as he started his college career in the NJCAA with Arizona Western. He transferred to UAB in 2023 and Michigan in 2025. Lendeberg was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and won the 2026 title under Dusty May’s leadership.
For the Warriors, acquiring a soon-to-be. Adding a 24-year-old rookie seems like a win-now move as they prepare to play without Jimmy Butler for the foreseeable future. Lendeberg has drawn comparisons to LeBron James and could be a steal in this draft.
Read more:
- Cameron Boozer Draws Early LeBron James Comparison From AJ Dybantsa For Unexpected Reason Ahead of Draft Day
- Kyrie Irving Proves There’s No Bad Blood With 2016 Cavs Teammates After Missing Reunion
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