NBA Summer League : Yaxel Lendeborg leads Warriors to title in Las Vegas
Two finals, two rings. Four months after helping Michigan win the college championship, Yaxel Lendeborg did it again on Sunday in Las Vegas. This time in a Golden State shirt, he was on the right side of a tight one against Memphis, sealed only on the final possession, 94-90.
The Warriors rookie did not just pick up another piece of silverware. He was also named MVP after a 21-point, 10-rebound, 2-assist, 2-steal display. Another big night for the No. 11 pick in the 2026 Draft.
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Lendeborg answers when it matters most
Memphis had taken control, too. A Cameron Boozer three at the buzzer to end the third quarter even pushed the Grizzlies 10 clear. Golden State did not fold. Bit by bit, the gap disappeared, before Lendeborg took charge in the fourth.
He scored three baskets in a matter of minutes to put the Warriors back in front. Deivon Smith, who also finished with 21 points off the bench, brought the needed energy to get the job done. In all, five Golden State players reached double figures.
It still could have swung late. Boozer missed a three that would have put Memphis ahead, then Olivier-Maxence Prosper coughed up the ball on an inbound play. Two chances gone, and with them the title.
A second ring in four months
Cameron Boozer finished with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. The No. 3 pick had a solid Summer League, but his last shot would not go down. Lendeborg, for his part, made no attempt to hide his satisfaction after getting one back on a player who had beaten him with Duke a few months ago.
The new Golden State wing also joins Davion Mitchell in a very small club. They are the only two players to win both the NCAA title and the Las Vegas Summer League crown in the same year.
His role will change once Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and the rest of the main men are back on the floor. Lendeborg will not have the ball in his hands nearly as much, and he will not be asked to carry the attack. But his defence, his work on the glass and his ability to cover multiple positions could see him carve out a place in the rotation quickly.
Golden State, meanwhile, have claimed their second title in Las Vegas. The Warriors join Sacramento and Portland among the few franchises to have won the tournament more than once since its current format was introduced in 2013.
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