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For most young basketball players, getting drafted by the Golden State Warriors would be a dream come true. For Yaxel Lendeborg, it also comes with a little irony.
Just moments after hearing his name called with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the former Michigan star made a surprising admission about his relationship with Warriors superstar Steph Curry growing up. There was a time when he couldn't stand him.
Yaxel Lendeborg's Steph Curry confession goes viral
Lendeborg was introduced as Golden State's newest first-round pick on Wednesday after helping lead Michigan to a national championship this past season. During his introductory media session, he reflected on his childhood basketball fandom and revealed why Curry wasn't exactly one of his favorite players.
"It’s a full-circle moment for me," Lendeborg said. "In 2016, I'm a big Kyrie guy, so I used to hate Steph Curry."
The comment immediately drew laughs, but it made perfect sense. Like many young fans at the time, Lendeborg was captivated by Kyrie Irving's dazzling ball-handling and shot-making ability during Cleveland's epic rivalry with Golden State. And in 2016, there was no bigger basketball debate than Kyrie versus Curry.
The NBA Finals rivalry that shaped a generation
The Cavaliers and Warriors met in three consecutive NBA Finals between 2015 and 2017, creating one of the defining rivalries of the modern NBA. Curry's Warriors won two of those championships, but Irving delivered perhaps the most memorable moment of the entire rivalry.
With less than a minute remaining in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, Irving drilled a championship-clinching three-pointer over Curry that helped complete Cleveland's historic comeback from a 3-1 deficit. For young Kyrie fans like Lendeborg, Curry became the enemy.
A decade later, everything has changed.
MORE: Ranking the 10 greatest moments of Giannis Antetokounmpo's legendary Bucks career
From hating Steph to becoming his teammate
Lendeborg made it clear those feelings disappeared long ago. The newly crowned national champion said he has since met Curry and came away impressed by the Warriors legend.
"He is a very great guy, a genuine person," Lendeborg said.
Now he'll get a chance to learn directly from him. Curry, who turns 39 during the upcoming season, enters what could be one of the final chapters of his Hall of Fame career. That gives Lendeborg a unique opportunity to begin his NBA journey alongside one of the greatest players in league history.
Why Warriors fans should be excited
Golden State didn't draft Lendeborg because of a funny Steph Curry story. They drafted him because he might be one of the most NBA-ready players in the class.
The Michigan standout helped power the Wolverines to the 2026 national championship while averaging 15.1 points per game and establishing himself as one of college basketball's most versatile two-way players. His resume speaks for itself.
Lendeborg earned Consensus First-Team All-American honors, won Big Ten Player of the Year and landed on both the All-Big Ten and All-Defensive teams.
Those accolades helped convince the Warriors to make him their lone first-round selection. Ten years ago, Lendeborg was rooting against Steph Curry during the NBA Finals. Now he'll be sharing a locker room with him.
That's about as full-circle as it gets.
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