The Golden State Warriors selected Michigan wing Yaxel Lendeborg with the 11th pick in Tuesday's draft, and the newest member of the franchise wasted no time making a memorable first impression with an unexpectedly honest admission about the team's franchise star.
Speaking at the draft podium, Lendeborg acknowledged his previous allegiance to another NBA point guard influenced his perception of Stephen Curry during one of the league's most intense rivalries. The Michigan product revealed he was a devoted fan of Kyrie Irving during the Warriors-Cavaliers battles that defined much of the mid-2010s NBA landscape.
"I'm a big Kyrie guy. So I used to hate Steph Curry," Lendeborg admitted at the podium.
The candid confession reflects the passionate fan perspective Lendeborg held while watching the Warriors and Cavaliers clash in four consecutive NBA Finals from 2015 through 2018. That rivalry produced some of the most memorable moments in modern basketball history, with Curry and Irving serving as the primary offensive engines for their respective teams.
Lendeborg's transformation from Curry critic to Warriors teammate represents a significant shift for the young player, who spent a decade observing the evolution of that rivalry from the outside. Now, he will have the opportunity to learn directly from the player he once rooted against, as Curry remains the cornerstone of Golden State's championship aspirations.
The selection of Lendeborg at 11th overall signals the Warriors' continued commitment to developing young talent alongside their veteran core. His honesty about his previous feelings toward Curry demonstrates a self-awareness that could serve him well as he transitions from college basketball at Michigan to the professional ranks.
For Warriors fans, the admission adds an intriguing subplot to Lendeborg's arrival in the Bay Area. The organization has a history of embracing players who can acknowledge their past perspectives while committing fully to the team's culture and championship goals moving forward.
