Yaxel Lendeborg prevailed over Cameron Boozer in a battle of lottery picks as the Warriors topped the Grizzlies Sunday night to claim the Las Vegas Summer League championship, writes Ben Golliver of ESPN.
It was the second title in four months for Lendeborg, the 11th pick in the draft, who celebrated an NCAA championship with Michigan in April. Golliver notes that he joins Davion Mitchell as the only players ever to accomplish that feat.
“Coming into this program, I just wanted to prove that I’m a winner,” Lendeborg said. “Doing stuff like this — not caring about the stats and just caring about the outcome. I’m going to continue to push that into next season with the bigger Warriors. … At Michigan, we played team ball. Here, we play team ball. That’s what wins games and championships.”
Lendeborg was named Championship Game MVP after posting 21 points and 10 rebounds in the 94-90 victory. The Warriors finished with a 5-1 record in Las Vegas and became the third team with multiple LVSL titles since the league began in 2013.
Boozer, the No. 3 pick in the draft, led Memphis with 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists. His three-pointer late in the third quarter gave the Grizzlies a 76-66 lead, but Lendeborg sparked the Warriors’ comeback. Reserve guard Deivon Smith scored 21 points as Golden State had five players reach double figures.
The Grizzlies had several opportunities late in the game, but Boozer missed a three-pointer that would have given them the lead and Olivier-Maxence Prosper committed a turnover on an inbounds pass.
“Their butts got tight,” Lendeborg said. “They puckered up. Some of us are built for the moment and some aren’t. … Our spirit, our will, our desire to not lose is pretty much what helped us out.”
Lendeborg, who’ll turn 24 in late September, is expected to be a complementary player with the Warriors during the season, but he got to show off his complete array of skills during Summer League. During the six games in Las Vegas, he averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 28.3 minutes per night while shooting 45.9% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range.
He also admitted some satisfaction in getting the best of Boozer, whose Duke team defeated Michigan in February.
“I think about [revenge] every time I play [Boozer],” Lendeborg said. “Every game we play, them refs be saving him. … It is a competitive nature [with] everybody that gets drafted ahead of me.”
“Some of us are built for the moment and some aren’t.”
Jeez. We already got a Yaxel / Boozer rivalry going? It’s not even Halloween!
Talking smack at summer league seems like you are asking to be humbled at the big show. Great for the fans though!
This is what LeBron was waiting for
This isn’t an article about the world cup wrapping up though?
You act like it’s lebrons fault that some drink company is going to pay him millions of dollars to hold a press conference announcing his decision while he grips whatever sugar water they are trying to sell.
Let’s not get too excited. Yackety Yaxel is 24 and Boozer just turned 19 the other day.
Yeah you’re certainly not the only one to point that out… I don’t think anyone thinks Boozer won’t continue to get better. But the common belief seems to be that Yaxel can’t get better because “he’s almost 24…”
Maybe Yaxel’s runway is shorter, but don’t forget that he hasn’t played a lot of bball. He’s probably played less than Boozer has, so he’s definitely still evolving as a player.
Yaxel won’t be 24 until 10 weeks from now.
They played 2 SL games and Yaxel outplayed Boozer in both.
Oh if you are telling me he’s 23.8 then that is totally different!
He will be 24 on September 30. Let’s not rush it lol.
You really should read his bio. He was raised by his mom. She played college ball in PR. His dad was legendary player for Dominican national team. Played ball in Europe. Yaxel developed his game late in life.
link to mlive.com
Yaxel has a lot of confidence and plays both sides of the ball. Warriors has not had a rookie this good since they drafted Klay and Green. The warruiors need to stop playing the old guys and start embracing the new young players coming up.
The last time they won in Vegas; they won it all. Draymond and Yaxel are going to be fun this season.
Hopefully Yaxel is much better than Draymond was as a rookie because despite what you seem to think Draymond was not good at all as a rookie. He was over weight, slow, worst shooter in the league and barely playable.
Whoa Skippy. You are overreacting to nothing I said. How did you get that?
You said the Warriors have not had a rookie this good since they drafted Klay and Draymond. As a 2nd round pick without an obvious position Draymond was not viewed as even a potential starter let alone a HOF player. His rookie year he looked like he would struggle to stay in the league.
Green was never a offensive player. So you just posted it because of teh hate you have for him. let it go he will retire soon.
I don’t hate Draymond. You obviously did not watch him play his rookie year or you would know how poor he was.
Who was the last good rookie the warriors drafted?
His rookie year he was a bench guy and the team was trying to figure out how to play him. Jackson, the failed coach, didn’t like him and didn’t know how to use him. Draymond wasn’t horrible his first year, the warriors were horrible. Literally the first move Kerr made was to swap Lee and Draymond.
I watched his rookie season. It sounds like you didn’t.
Warriors were not horrible that year. they made the playoffs. green had to prove himslef. and David Lee was healthy and even a allstar that year. Barnes was 6th for ROY. Even in Green’s second year he was not a regular. It took time for him to learn the system. sounds like you are the one that didn’t watch his rookie season.
Bandwagon fans huh, SMH.
“He was over weight, slow, worst shooter in the league and barely playable.”
Sounds just like Dray last season.
Dray is getting old and admits he can’t go against big centers anymore like he used to go against. We can blame Kerr for that. Luckily they have 3 guys who can play center this year.
Yaxel can learn a lot from Dre. He can be a good mentor for him.
These Rooks look like they had a lot of fun in Vegas. Robinson did a nice job. Dunleavy is bringing together the tight players. They may not put up a lot of Ws at Chase this upcoming season. But, they’ll have fun with every effort. That enthusiasm can lead them to far places. Nice start to a new era. No need for a LeBron.
How is it a “new era” when they are basically running back the same squad as last year plus Yaxel? That’s putting a lot on Yaxel on the basis of some summer league games against a bunch of guys who mostly are going to be in the G league.
Whoa. Someone is a bit testy. Didn’t eat your Wheaties today.
My Wheaties intake does not impact my view of reality.
Your lack of Wheaties may not impact your view of reality, but it definitely impacts your understanding of the English language. As many as 6 of these guys will probably get minutes at Chase Center this season. Another 2 will probably be at Santa Cruz. They all played together, won, and had some fun. That is good for the future of the team.
Grizzlies played at least 3 starters (Boozer, Coward and Prosper) and possibly a 4th (Jazz lottery pick Hendricks, who started 17 games, 11 for the Grizz and/or Small, who started 12 last season as a 2-way).
Fun game. Can’t remember last time I watched another Summer League title game as much. Grizz have got some good young talent again.
Being mentioned in the same league as Davion Off Night Mitchell. Get the HOF jacket ready boys
Last year’s MVP played in the summer league too. So did the joker so what is your point?
“ It was the second title in four months for Lendeborg, the 11th pick in the draft, who celebrated an NCAA championship with Michigan in April. Golliver notes that he joins Davion Mitchell as the only players ever to accomplish that feat.”
Did last years MVP win a title in college and summer league?
Did Jokic win a title in college and summer league?
No other wise they’d be on the list.
So your point is what exactly?
my point is you are trying hard to down play Yaxel. Why did you mention Devion Mitchel? Oh that right to talk smack about Yaxel. So how about telling what your point was or did I get it right?
Article mentioned Davion Mitchell I even copied it for you lol how did you miss it twice. It’s the second paragraph.
Third times the charm, well for most people
“It was the second title in four months for Lendeborg, the 11th pick in the draft, who celebrated an NCAA championship with Michigan in April. Golliver notes that he joins Davion Mitchell as the only players ever to accomplish that feat.”
My point is Yaxel needs a cool nickname like Off Night has
I already gave him a cool name above. Yakety Yaxel.
I love it
He’s already called unc.
Omg what if we call
Him unxel?
You’re a f-ing genius. I’m in, he could run with that for real. Embrace it.
come on snarky comment like you stio op running from it since you added get HOF jacket ready.
Oh that part. Summer league should have HOF jackets too
So should G league.
“ you stio op running from it”
You have a stroke? You alright dude?
All rookies play in SL. What exactly do you expect of them. Individual success is a step in right direction. You should be watching how he handles the step up in talent. As they will need to level up again. When season starts. Why watch it. If you can’t see it.
WWE style rules
Yeah ….. sounds about right.
You and I both know letting em play is more
Exciting version of basketball
Wrap that ROY trophy up for Yaxel!
GSW ARE GOING BACK TO THE TOP!!
The warriors real legacy is how they broke the fans of lesser teams.
Look at the bias and hate against the warriors. I love it.
Yaxel. Needs to work on his man defense. And his shooting. Dre can help him with the D. And Steph can help him with the shooting. He should love playing in GS. Even if they get Bron. Yaxel can be a big part of team.