Mike Dunleavy isn't worried about Lendeborg.
The Golden State Warriors went with experience with their first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, selecting Michigan senior forwards Yaxel Lendeborg with the 11th-overall pick and going with one of the older players available in the first round seems right in line with the Warriors current philosophy around their roster needs, targeting players that won't need much adjustment time and can be ready right away.
Still, age is relative and when it comes to professional sports and especially when it comes to incoming players to the league, a lot of attention is paid to age and an "old" player can be someone like Lendeborg, who is over three months away from turning 24-years-old.
An Old Player On an Older Roster
For most, Lendeborg would be a spring chicken, but for those concerned about the Warriors age as a roster, with five players 35-years-old or older including stars Steph Curry and Draymond Green, selecting an older player in the draft has some concerns about Lendeborg's longevity and the overall future of the team in the coming years.
Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy has heard these concerns, and he added soime perspective about why he's not concerned about Lendeborg's age and why his experience playing five seasons in college ball between junior college and the NCAA will be an asset for the Warriors, not a liability.
"I'm not worried [about Lendeborg's age] because he's not 38," Dunleavy said (via Kenzo Fukuda). "I think it's tough anytime a guy's changing levels, whether it's high school to college or college to the NBA. But generally guys, like this guy who's physically ready, has played at the highest level of college, won a national championship, maybe those guys can play sooner."
Why The Warriors Drafted Lendeborg
The Warriors' age as a roster is one of the reasons that Golden State is feeling such pressure to build an impactful roster as quickly as possible to try and rocket themselves back into playoff contention, but it's the players near the end of their careers that the Warriors are concerned about, not players about to start their.
Lendeborg's experience in the NCAA, especially during his NCAA championship run with the Wolverines, paired with his build at 6'9 and 241 pounds will go a long way in preparing him to handle the pressures of the NBA and, if needed, start with the Warriors right away.
Dunleavy didn't make any guarantees about how much playing time Lendeborg will get at the beginning of the season or if he will be a starter from the jump, but it's clear that he's confident that if needed, Lendeborg will be ready to answer the call.
