New Warrior Yaxel Lendeborg 'used to hate Steph Curry' as Kyrie fan - ESPN

SAN FRANCISCO — Michigan wing Yaxel Lendeborg was 13 years old in 2016, another teenage NBA fan debating his friends about his favorite side of the increasingly contentious rivalry between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors.

«I'm a big Kyrie [Irving] guy,» Lendeborg said. «So I used to hate Steph Curry.»

Lendeborg made this admission a decade later on a podium in Brooklyn, wearing a Warriors hat after the organization selected him No. 11 in the NBA draft and made him Curry's newest teammate. He called it a «full circle» moment.

«Now that I'm actually going to be able to be on the same team with him, play and actually learn so much from him, it means a lot,» Lendeborg said. «He's a very great guy, genuine person. It's going to be an honor to be able to watch what he does in person.»

Lendeborg met Curry when he attended the play-in game between the Warriors and LA Clippers in April and said he had a conversation with Curry during his in-person workout with the Warriors last week. He also expressed a level of excitement about playing in the frontcourt next to Draymond Green, but also tossed a little dig at another of his new veteran teammates.

«I know he's a Michigan State guy,» Lendeborg said. «I'm really not too fond of that. But I'm definitely excited to be able to meet him and speak to him in person and learn. Just learn everything I can.»

General manager Mike Dunleavy said the Warriors started taking Lendeborg more serious as an option with the 11th pick after a conversation at the combine in Chicago in May, saying that Lendeborg showed an increased level of maturity from his 2025 predraft interviews.

Lendeborg dipped his toes in the draft waters last summer but opted to return to school and transfer