The Michigan Wolverines won the 2025-26 national championship with three lottery picks anchoring the interior: Morez Johnson Jr., Yaxel Lendeborg, and Aday Mara. Johnson was selected at No. 9 overall by the Dallas Mavericks, and Lendeborg and Mara went back-to-back at No. 11 and No. 12. That's put the Golden State Warriors, which drafted Lendeborg at No. 11, under the proverbial magnifying lens.
With Mara dominating the preseason with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the pressure has mounted even higher on Lendeborg to elevate the Warriors.
Lendeborg has been nothing short of sensational himself during a refreshing preseason for the Warriors. For the first time in what feels like a small eternity, Golden State has an up-and-comer to be excited about, as Lendeborg is showing out on both ends of the floor.
That materialized with Lendeborg grabbing nine rebounds in his preseason debut, posting 17 points and nine boards his next time out, and dropping 23 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and a block during his most recent showing.
For as thrilling as that all may be, Mara is a special type of prospect. He’s already an intimidating force at 7'3” and 262 pounds with an 7'6” wingspan. Throw in the fact that he’s hitting Dirk Nowitzki style turnarounds while scoring inside, crashing the boards, and protecting the paint, and he’s all the more enticing—as well as three years younger than Lendeborg.
Whether fair or foul, Lendeborg’s college teammate showing out has fostered an environment in which the two will be linked in debates about who the pick should've been.
Warriors drafted Yaxel Lendeborg over Aday Mara—the right choice?
Golden State entered the 2026 NBA Draft with two clear needs: A prospect they could build their future with and a player who could help them win now. Through injuries and generally questionable roster decisions, the Warriors have minimal long-term depth and a scarce few players who appear ready to contribute consistent minutes toward the goal of helping Stephen Curry compete for another championship.
That likely explains the Lendeborg selection, as the 24-year-old rookie comes to the NBA with a rather complete skill set as a scorer, rebounder, playmaker and defender.
In saying that, the Warriors don’t just need a player whom they can plug in for short-term purposes. They also need players who can give them a future beyond Curry. Perhaps Lendeborg can be that type of contributor, but if Mara is the better player in the long run and Golden State can’t win at the level they’re aiming for during Curry’s twilight years as an NBA player, then the pick will be questioned.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that Lendeborg wasn't worth the investment, but there aren’t many players with Mara’s combination of size and skill floating around the NBA—and those who are in the mix tend to be special.
With this in mind, the question beckons: How good can Lendeborg be? He’s a versatile defender and a well-rounded offensive player who’s showcasing advanced scoring instincts during the preseason. Based on the Warriors’ roster, he may need to be the second or third option on offense sooner than later. Even if not, he’ll need to maximize his minutes.
It’s a tall task for a rookie to take on, but Lendeborg is likely to spend his career being compared to his former college teammate. Mara’s massive preseason has only started the conversation.
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