The most improbable story of the 2026 NBA draft is the ascent of Yaxel Lendeborg, an NCAA champion who emerged as a projected lottery pick after postponing his entry. He did not begin taking basketball seriously until age 18 and, according to ESPN, credits the video game NBA 2K with helping him learn the sport’s fundamentals.
Lendeborg’s college path began at Arizona Western College in 2020, followed by a transfer to UAB in 2023. He entered the 2025 NBA draft but withdrew and moved to Michigan, where a seven-figure deal awaited, according to ESPN. What was then a borderline first-round profile has become a green room prospect expected to hear his name when the draft unfolds in Brooklyn.
At Michigan, Lendeborg averaged 15.1 points per game and helped lead the Wolverines to their first national championship since 1989. He was named an All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year, and his versatility at 6-foot-9 and 230 pounds drew notice from NBA executives, according to ESPN. Lendeborg acknowledged the adjustment from video-game learning to live competition, telling ESPN that mastering footwork and game habits required time.
Ron Shade, Lendeborg’s agent and Octagon’s vice president of basketball, told ESPN the player chose not to pursue a G League or two-way route at that stage of his life and career. Lendeborg said he was not comfortable entering the NBA earlier and risking his long-term prospects, ESPN reported.
The decision to remain in college highlights changes in the sport’s landscape, with ESPN noting the rise of NIL and revenue sharing as factors allowing prospects to delay the draft. Brian Thornton, the Big 12’s chief basketball officer, told ESPN that NBA teams increasingly receive more developed prospects who have benefited from extensive college experience.
Michigan’s program provided a structured environment for development, with days that included nutritionist-prepared breakfasts, 11 a.m. workouts with associate head coach Mike Boynton, practice time in a $10 million facility, analytics guidance from director Jacob Kohn and strength programming from Matt Aldred, as well as access to psychologists and medical staff, according to ESPN.
