Yaxel Lendeborg didn't waste time proving to the Golden State Warriors that they made the right decision to draft him. He earned the Summer League Championship Game MVP award by leading the team to a 94-90 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
Golden State selected the 6-foot-9 forward at No. 11 in the first round. He is fresh off a national championship-winning run with the Michigan Wolverines. Lendeborg earned consensus first-team All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year honors last season.
The Warriors' Instagram account posted a graphic of the rookie and added its reaction to the MVP news in the caption.
"MVP Yaxel Lendeborg has a nice ring to it🙂↕️" Golden State wrote.
Lendeborg finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals in 23 minutes. This was enough to earn him the coveted MVP award.
He was backed by Deivon Smith and LJ Cryer, who delivered 21 and 15 points, respectively.
Memphis, on the other hand, was led by Cedric Coward and Cameron Boozer's 19 points each. The latter added eight rebounds and four assists.
The Warriors will rely on Lendeborg's versatility to help them in their championship quest next season. He can play both forward positions and can serve as a stretch four.
The 23-year-old will have the opportunity to learn from the team's veteran stars, including Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green. Lendeborg's future is bright, and the Summer League award will only further boost his confidence ahead of his rookie campaign.
