Draymond Green and Jordan Poole engaged in a physical altercation in 2022 during a team practice session, but Yaxel Lendeborg is not worried about it. The rookie was picked 11th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2026 NBA draft. Even though he has not played a single game with the team, he has caught flak from the veteran Green.
Poole and Lendeborg come from the same college, the University of Michigan, which has sparked discussion about their similarities. Earlier, he claimed that he texted Steph Curry after being drafted, who responded, but he was still waiting on a reply from Green. The center addressed this on his show and called Lendeborg a “liar.”
Lendeborg has since received several social media messages from fans about him being another Poole, given his early altercations with Green. In a recent conversation with the San Frasisco Chronicle, the rookie said:
“I’ve just seen the video, and I’m like, ‘Damn, what could have inspired that to happen?’ It is kind of interesting, but I’m not the kind of guy who’s going to be mad at my teammates. I don’t think I’ll ever put Draymond in a position to even want to do that.”
After an aggressive rant over Lendeborg, Green simply made him understand that the Warriors didn’t have any “rookie hazing” things, but the rookie should “tread lightly.” After a practice session video of the Poole-Green physical altercation was released in public, their relationship quickly deteriorated, eventually leading to his trade in 2023.
Earlier, Lendeborg also pitched LeBron James, requesting him to be a part of Golden State. Green addressed that too on his show.
“I think the pitch is pointless,” Draymond Green clears his thoughts on Yaxel Lendeborg’s pitch to LeBron James
On The Draymond Green Show‘s July 16 episode, Draymond Green expressed his thoughts about Yaxel Lendeborg’s recent pitch to LeBron James to join the Warriors this offseason. The four-time NBA champion is a free agent, looking for his next destination in the league.
Meanwhile, Green believed that the pitch was “pointless” and said:
“Is the pitch too weak or too strong? I don’t know. I think the pitch is pointless, you know. But it’s fine. Training camp is coming soon enough, and you know, got to rein the rookie in a little bit. You know, teach him a few things.”
Green is also an unrestricted free agent, but he said he would be there for the training camp to meet Lendeborg. The center added:
“Training camp’s coming soon enough. Yeah, it’s training camp will be here pretty soon. And I think you all know why I’m hitting at training camp. And yeah, it’ll get here soon enough, Yax. Enjoy all your media.”
The Warriors are still looking to add efficient frontcourt pieces before next season. James’ pursuit is reportedly open for now. Meanwhile, Lendeborg has been balling in the Summer League, showing his capabilities. The future looks good for the Warriors, but they first have to sort out current issues.
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