Warriors' No. 11 Pick Yaxel Lendeborg Says He Once Hated Stephen Curry

Q: Was the Warriors' on-air draft argument a sign of a collapsing dynasty or a healthy debate?

It looked far more like a healthy debate than evidence of a collapsing dynasty. The key fact is that Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said the disagreement with owner Joe Lacob was not over whether to draft Yaxel Lendeborg. By his account, the team was aligned on Lendeborg as the pick at No. 11. The tension was about process: Lacob wanted to move quickly, while Dunleavy wanted to use the full clock to hear out trade calls and make sure no better option emerged. That matters because it points to a normal draft-room dispute under time pressure, not a fractured front office. Reporting around the pick also indicated Golden State had explored trade possibilities and brushed off at least a moderate offer, which supports Dunleavy’s explanation that the discussion was about maximizing value, not internal chaos. The moment drew outsized attention because the Warriors are no longer operating from a position of dominance. They are coming off a 37-win season, missed the playoffs, and are trying to extend Stephen Curry’s title window with an aging core. In that context, any visible disagreement can be read as a sign of instability. But the available evidence cuts the other way. Dunleavy has recently secured his standing with the organization, the team ultimately made a pick it reportedly valued highly, and Lendeborg fits their stated need for an immediate contributor. The exchange was a public glimpse of urgency and pressure, not proof the dynasty is collapsing.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 24

Yaxel Lendeborg said after Golden State took him with the No. 11 pick that he "used to hate" Stephen Curry as a 2016 Kyrie Irving and Cavaliers fan.
The Michigan forward framed it as a "full-circle moment," saying he now admires Curry and is eager to learn from him as a teammate.
Lendeborg said he has already met Curry a couple of times, calling him a genuine person and saying it will be an honor to watch him up close.
His candid remark came after another draft-night talking point: owner Joe Lacob and GM Mike Dunleavy were shown in an animated exchange before the Warriors made the pick.