Jaksel Lendeborg has plenty to dream about when he’s lying in bed at night. There’s the prospect of teaming up with Stephen Curry, widely regarded as the best shooter ever, and being on the court alongside Draymond Green, a Hall of Famer known for shutting down star players.
When he was asked what scenario often occupies his thoughts as he drifts off, he answered without missing a beat.
“You’d think lockdown defense would be next for Dray,” Lendeborg shared with the California Post. “There’s a lot to absorb. He’s an exceptional defender, incredibly versatile. That’s an area I’m eager to develop, so I can’t wait to learn from him.”
For the Warriors, Lendeborg is seen as a crucial addition.
Standing at 6-foot-9 and weighing 240 pounds, he plays small-ball center, can handle the ball, and shoot three-pointers. He’s also well-regarded defensively, capable of guarding positions 1 through 5.
At just 23, Lendeborg was picked 11th overall by Golden State in the 2026 NBA Draft. He’s expected to have an immediate influence, especially with Jimmy Butler sidelined (torn right ACL) and Moses Moody out (torn left patellar tendon) for the start of the season.
On draft night, he had his doubts about being selected by the Warriors.
“They really showed me a lot of love,” he recounted about a private workout with the team on June 11. “They laid out a game plan for me. I left feeling really good. It felt like they wanted me from the moment I arrived. There was no other place I wanted to go.”
Lendeborg is, notably, at least three years older than the 10 players picked before him. While age can be a red flag for some franchises—given the emphasis on youth—this wasn’t the case for a Warriors team eager to support the aging Curry’s championship ambitions.
“We got the player we were aiming for,” Warriors owner Joe Lacob mentioned last month while unveiling new jersey patches.
Know How to Win
Last season, he played a key role in leading the University of Michigan to an NCAA championship, averaging 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.1 steals on 52% shooting. He was named a first-team All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year.
For the Warriors, Lendeborg is recognized as their most significant acquisition during an otherwise quiet offseason for a franchise that saw substantial success from 2015 to 2022 but has missed the playoffs in two of the last three years.
However, things could shift.
The Warriors are also pursuing LeBron James.
For Lendeborg, it would be surreal to play alongside someone considered perhaps the greatest player in history.
“That would be amazing,” Lendeborg shared with the Post. “I can gain so much insight from him. We play the same position and are pretty similar in size—though he’s obviously stronger. I can learn how he maintains his body, the training regime he follows, and what he did to enhance his game IQ. That’s what excites me the most.” He added with a smile, “I just hope he doesn’t take all my playing time.”
No Lack of Confidence
In a post-draft interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio, he boldly stated, “I’m eager to build a new dynasty with the Warriors.”
Lendeborg has shown determination to make an impact straight away, and his summer league performance has validated that belief.
In Las Vegas, he put up an average of 17.5 points in the first two games, shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range.
Yet, he soon recognized that he needed to enhance his conditioning.
Fortunately, he can observe Curry, who is famous for his rigorous offseason workouts that have solidified his legacy in the NBA.
“He’s arguably the fittest player in NBA history,” Lendeborg said. “I want to adopt that kind of discipline.”
He’s also started building rapport with his new teammates. On draft night, he jokingly remarked that he “hated Stephen Curry” as he was always a fan of Kyrie Irving. Curry responded with enthusiasm on social media, assuring him, “Let’s go! Welcome to the bay! I’ll do my best to become your new favorite player.”
Draymond Green also responded to Lendeborg’s claims about him not replying to emails, jokingly calling him a “liar” on his podcast, while affirming he did respond shortly after.
Some Regrets
“Thinking about it makes me a bit anxious,” Lendeborg admitted to the Post. “But I hope I’ll be welcomed and accepted without any hard feelings.”
Despite any initial tension, Lendeborg is genuinely grateful to share the court with Curry and Green, who have helped turn the Warriors into a modern dynasty. It’s been a while since a team won back-to-back titles, as the Warriors did in 2017 and 2018.
“I’m so excited to play with them—they’re historic players,” he said. “They’ll be Hall of Famers someday, having won championships at the highest level. There’s so much to learn.”
This is why he felt so nervous on draft night.
The Warriors’ selection was their highest in five years. There were rumors regarding other players like Brayden Burries, who was picked just ahead of Lendeborg, and Adei Mara, who came after.
“I was on edge the entire time. I had no idea where I might go, and I didn’t think I’d get a chance here,” he reflected. “But I feel blessed to be here.”
His happiness was evident once NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called his name for Golden State.
As he hugged his mother, Issel Raposo, who is battling stage 4 appendiceal cancer, emotions overwhelmed him. She had always called him on draft night, wanting to know if he was watching and encouraging him to believe in his future aspirations.
Now, as she wiped his tears, she fought back her own.
If his dream became reality, then hers did too.
“There’s nothing more rewarding than giving this gift to my mom,” he said.
