Is Yaxel Lendeborg a Lottery Pick? Here's What Our Latest 2026 NBA Mock Draft Says
A potential first-round pick in 2025, Yaxel Lendeborg wound up choosing to withdraw from the draft and transfer to Michigan.
It couldn't have worked out better—he validated the production at UAB by leading a power-conference program to a national championship while improving his shooting and defense.
The impact matched the stats this year against top competition. And now he's being looked at as an option for lottery teams, which has become rare for a college senior.
At this point, being 23 years old is the biggest worry scouts have, because it's become very difficult to poke holes in Lendeborg's film or numbers.
Essential Facts and Stats
College: Michigan | Position: PF | Height: 6'9" | Weight: 240 lbs | Age: 23 | PPG: 14.6 | RPG: 7.0 | APG: 3.2 | BPG: 1.3 | SPG: 1.2 | FG%: 50.9 | 3PT%: 35.3
Latest Mock Position
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No. 13
Realistic Draft Range: Late lottery to mid-first round
History suggests that players drafted at 23 years old have little to no chance of reaching stardom in the NBA. That's going to keep Lendeborg out of the top 10 of a draft with a special freshmen class.
He'll start to look appealing in the late lottery for teams that want to prioritize winning sooner.
It would make sense if teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs or even the Charlotte Hornets were more interested in adding an NBA-ready forward, rather than draft a teenager with a perceived higher ceiling, lengthier timetable and more unpredictable outcomes.
Realistic Pro Comparison: Aaron Gordon
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Aaron Gordon has more athletic pop, but Lendeborg has a similar body and skill set. And most importantly, he's going to impact games in the same glue-guy role with his versatility at both ends of the floor.
He's never going to be a top scoring option. Like Gordon, Lendeborg will play off and complement better creators and shooters.
Neither has one standout skill, but both can do a little of everything from either frontcourt spot, whether it is knocking down spot-up threes, passing, finishing plays, starting fast breaks or contesting shots inside and out.
Strengths
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Strength 1: Offensive versatility
Lendeborg has the ability to impact games offensively in different ways from different roles. Per Synergy Sports, he graded in the 90th percentile or better as a spot-up scorer, post-up player, pick-and-roll handler, transition weapon and cutter. Lendeborg possesses an effective mix of athleticism and strength in the paint. He had success in ball-screen situations, getting downhill and finishing. He became a more reliable perimeter shotmaker his senior year. And he's always been used as a secondary playmaker.
Strength 2: Defensive versatility
Lendeborg's tape looked better than his 2.1 steal rate and 4.6 block percentage. He made strong efforts getting out to shooters or making recovery plays on the ball. His overall defensive movement navigating away from the basket seemed better at Michigan. NBA teams should be comfortable projecting a defender who can guard both forward spots and make exciting plays on the ball.
Strength 3: Improved shooting
Scouts had been hesitant to show confidence in Lendeborg until he improved his shooting. This year with talent around him, he made 41.8 percent of his spot-up threes and 40.5 percent of his pull-up threes.
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Weaknesses
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Weakness 1: Burst/explosion
Lendeborg's skill and size create advantages, but not his athletic traits. He's not going to blow by NBA wings.
Weakness 2: Self-creation
Without much burst, shiftiness or a deep dribble-jumper bag, Lendeborg isn't the slickest one-on-one scorer. He'll capitalize within an offensive set, but he's not going to be the player coaches go to at the end of a clock. He shot just 3-of-14 out of isolation.
Weakness 3: Age
The last first-round pick drafted at 23 years old to make an All-Star game was Josh Howard in 2003. Taking Lendeborg essentially means punting on upside and valuing the likelihood you're getting a role player. He'll be 24 years old on opening day next year.
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