How Yaxel Lendeborg impressed Draymond Green at Warriors' players-only camp

How Yaxel Lendeborg impressed Draymond Green at Warriors' players-only camp originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green and Yaxel Lendeborg have had an eventful summer full of back-and-forth exchanges, but the veteran didn’t mince his words when discussing his initial impression of the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Green was effusive in his praise of Lendeborg after Jimmy Butler III’s players-only camp in San Diego before training camp begins on Sep. 29.

“He (Lendeborg) can play,” Green said on Saturday’s episode of “The Draymond Green Show”. “He understands the game, he’s smart and this was really my first time getting eyes on him in-person consistently. Shoot the piss out of the basketball, like I was very, very, very impressed. I’m excited to see where he can take it.”

Green also clarified he did not want to burden Lendeborg with unnecessary expectations, stating the “NBA game is different” when going up against players like Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard on a nightly basis.

The new teammates appear to have a strong relationship, but have traded barbs about their rival alma maters since Lendeborg became a Warrior. Green and Lendeborg attended Michigan State and Michigan respectively, with Lendeborg referring to the Spartans as “little brother” on draft night.

Lendeborg then called out Green for not responding to his introductory text message, to which Green responded with receipts on his show before jokingly threatening to haze the rookie.

Despite the banter, both share similarities from their collegiate accomplishments to their play style. Both players earned First-Team All-American honors in their final seasons, employing a defense-first approach to their games.

Lendborg, who turns 24 at the end of the month, was the oldest player in this year’s draft, and brings a level of experience that previous lottery picks, like James Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga, did not have.

Golden State’s roster is veteran-heavy at the top, led by Steph Curry, Butler and Green, but Lendeborg is set up to make an immediate impact as a rookie.

The Warriors’ training camp is slated to start Tuesday, where Green and Lendeborg are hopeful to translate their online conversations into on-court chemistry.

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