Yaxel Lendeborg leads Warriors to NBA Summer League title as MVP

Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg registered a double-double on Sunday to lead the Golden State Warriors to their second NBA Summer League Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Lendeborg was named MVP of the game, recording 21 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 94-90 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at the Thomas & Mack Center. He went 9-for-18 from the field, including 2-for-6 from 3-point range, in 32 minutes.

After starring at Michigan last season, Lendeborg became the second player to win an NCAA national championship and a summer league title in the same calendar year. He tallied 12 points and eight rebounds in the second half alone as the Warriors held on to win.

“It means a lot,” Lendeborg said during a postgame interview on ESPN. “It comes from all of the sacrifices, all of the struggles to get to this point. Every game I play, I have something to prove to myself and to those who don’t believe in me. I’m just very proud of this moment and glad we got the win.”

Lendeborg averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, four assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 35.7% from 3-point range in six games in the desert. He helped the Warriors become one of three teams with multiple summer league titles, joining Sacramento and Portland.

The 11th overall pick performed well with the Warriors this month, offering a glimpse of the production he can bring nightly. His addition has been praised by several members of the team, with teammate Draymond Green calling him “a great pick.”

Lendeborg faces an uphill battle as a rookie who must earn his playing time in coach Steve Kerr’s rotation. He is striving to help the group win at any cost, starting with his hustle.

“I’m going to bring a lot of energy,” Lendeborg said. “I’m going to be the most energetic-playing guy on the floor every night. I’m going to try to bring as many positive vibes as possible.”