Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports

By TESN Staff

Yaxel Lendeborg's first taste of NBA basketball couldn't have gone much better.

The Golden State Warriors rookie delivered when it mattered most, scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds to lead the Warriors to a 94-90 comeback victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2026 NBA Summer League championship game. For his performance, Lendeborg was named the NBA Summer League Championship Game MVP.

Golden State entered the fourth quarter trailing by 10 points before Lendeborg took over. The No. 11 overall pick scored seven of the Warriors' final 10 points, helping fuel the rally and secure the franchise's second Summer League championship.

The championship performance was the perfect ending to an impressive Summer League run. Over six games, Lendeborg averaged 14.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 48.4 percent from the field. His versatility was on display throughout the tournament, whether he was initiating offense, crashing the boards or making timely defensive plays.

Lendeborg arrived in Golden State with plenty of momentum after helping Michigan win the 2026 NCAA national championship. His strong Summer League showing only reinforced why the Warriors made him the 11th overall selection in the NBA Draft.

While Summer League is just the first step in a long NBA career, Lendeborg looked comfortable in Golden State's system and consistently made winning plays. If this performance is any indication, the Warriors may have found another versatile piece capable of contributing sooner rather than later.