Yaxel Lendeborg, Warriors Draft Pick: “I Used to Hate Steph Curry” 😂 — Full Interview+Transcript

[0:03] Yeah, we got Yaxo! [0:07] Yes! Yes! [0:11] Oh yeah! You see this? You see this? Thank you, Brett Siegel! Thank you, Brett Siegel! [0:23] Brett Siegel came through! Brett Siegel came through! Oh, oh, wow, yes! [0:35] Yes! [0:37] Congratulations! [0:38] A few moments later... [0:40] Probably not the most important thing on your mind right now, but you wore number 23 at Michigan. [0:47] That's a problem right now, because Draymond Green's wearing 23 with the Warriors. [0:51] Are you willing to pay him? Is there another number you have as a backup? [0:55] You know, my other number was number three, but can't do that one either. [0:58] Can't do that one either. [0:59] I think now that I'm stepping into the NBA, I'm going to step in with another number and start a new legacy. [1:04] Like 30, maybe? [1:05] Nah, I can't even do that. There's no amount of money to pay him. [1:09] Appreciate you. [1:10] So thank you. [1:13] First row here on the left. [1:14] Yeah, so Zach Gill, WFAN. [1:16] Obviously, it's always special to get drafted, but to go to an organization like the Warriors and to play alongside Steph Curry, [1:22] just what comes to mind when you put that into words? [1:25] It's a full circle moment for me. [1:27] You know, I've been saying this every time I get asked this question, but 2016, I'm a big Kyrie guy, so I used to hate Steph Curry. [1:33] So now that I'm actually going to be able to be on the same team as him, play, you know, and actually learn so much from him, it means a lot. [1:41] You know, I met him a couple times. [1:42] He's a very great guy, genuine person. [1:44] And it's going to be an honor to be able to watch him do what he does in person. [1:47] So I'm very excited. [1:50] Fourth row. [1:50] Mike Muse, ABC News. [1:52] Go Blue, my guy. [1:53] Yes, sir. [1:53] Go Blue. [1:54] Two things. [1:55] One, what was the group chat like between you and the other Michigan draftees that got selected today last night? [2:00] Like, what were y'all talking about? [2:02] And then what part are you excited for the NBA to see? [2:05] Because you can do so many things on the court. [2:07] Well, in the group chat, we were all super excited, super nervous. [2:10] Merez was actually kind of pushing it. [2:11] His suit didn't come in until this morning. [2:13] So, you know, who knew if he was going to look nice or not? [2:15] But, you know, we were all just talking about who we think is going to go first, who's going to go where. [2:21] And Merez would always say he's going last. [2:22] So it's kind of funny that he went first. [2:24] So he got the first dinner, no matter what. [2:26] But I'm super excited for him. [2:28] I'm super happy. [2:29] And I feel like what it'll translate quickly for me would be just my defense, my versatility. [2:35] And I feel like just the IQ of the game, making the right reads, making the right play at the right time. [2:40] First row on the right. [2:42] Yaxel, estás haciendo historia para República Dominicana. [2:44] ¿Qué significa para ti este momento? [2:47] Y también, no sé si nos puedas platicar cómo fue tu workout con los Warriors. [2:50] Se siente muy bien, tú sabes, yo estoy muy, muy happy por este momento. [2:56] Y mi mamá estaba muy happy también, tú sabes. [3:00] Todo lo que hicimos toda mi vida para practicar y llegar aquí se fue loco. [3:06] Todo, todo se fue loco. [3:07] Pero el workout con los Warriors se fue muy, muy bien. [3:10] Ellos me gustaron mucho. [3:11] Solo como yo soy una persona, tú sabes. [3:14] Yo no sé qué decirlo, pero yo estoy feliz para ir para allá y estoy emocionado para jugar de nuevo. [3:23] Yeah, for sure. [3:24] Yaxel, what was your reaction the other day when you saw that Dusty May was leaving Michigan to go to Dallas? [3:30] Man, I was shocked. [3:32] Like, I was driving at the time and I'm just like, I think I screamed right away. [3:37] Like, no way. [3:37] Like, what happened, you know? [3:40] But, you know, he's a great coach. [3:43] He's going to be a Hall of Fame coach anywhere he goes. [3:44] I definitely believe that. [3:45] So, I'm excited for him, you know? [3:47] Definitely was shocked. [3:48] Could have fell to my knees if I wasn't driving. [3:50] But it was definitely shocking. [3:52] When Dallas was on the clock, did you think there was a chance he was going to take you? [3:57] Then did you feel some... [3:58] I know it was Merez, but did you feel some type of way that coach didn't get you drafted at Dallas? [4:02] I'm definitely mad at Dusty right now because, you know, we know who his favorite is now, you know? [4:06] So, but I'm happy that it was Merez. [4:08] If there was anybody other than a missing guy, I wanted a blocked coach for real. [4:12] But, you know, I'm super happy for Merez. [4:14] He definitely deserves it and he's going to be a great pro for sure. [4:18] Hi, Alex, right here. [4:20] This is Kami from Migu. [4:21] First of all, congratulations. [4:23] Thank you. [4:23] Your journey wasn't the typical five-third path. [4:26] So, when things weren't guaranteed, what kept you believing that you belong here? [4:31] My mom, you know, she pretty much put me on this path. [4:36] So, there was many times where I wanted to give up and I wanted to quit. [4:38] But I would always think, like, how would my mom feel about this, you know? [4:40] So, she always kept that extra chip on my shoulder and extra motivation. [4:44] And I feel like just the fact that nobody believed in me, nobody saw my talents or thought that I could amount to something, [4:51] definitely made me want to go out there and show everybody else that even if you were a five-star from day one, you know, [4:56] I'm going to go out there and I'll work you. [4:58] Also, you're really big on TikTok Live. [5:00] Are you going to go live to share this moment with everybody? [5:03] You know, I was getting told a lot to stay off of live. [5:07] Roddy and Trey are here, so I definitely will be getting on TikTok Live just for a little bit. [5:12] I'm not going to go wild tonight. [5:13] But I know I got to talk to some of the Michigan fans and hopefully some of the Bay Area fans. [5:18] So, I'm very excited for that. [5:20] Yes, ma'am. [5:21] Go blue. [5:22] Any other questions for you, Axel? [5:24] Let's go middle. [5:25] Hi, Kate Cox with WFUV. [5:31] Yesterday, you talked to us a little bit about going back for one more year in college and how that journey really changed you. [5:37] Can you talk a little bit more about that and how it feels now to be drafted tonight in the first round? [5:42] Well, for one, it feels amazing. [5:43] When I was getting recruited by Dusty, he said he was going to make me a lottery pick. [5:47] Evidently, he made me a lottery pick, a die, a res, you know. [5:50] So, that decision definitely was the best decision I ever made. [5:53] I went back because I didn't feel like I was ready yet. [5:55] I didn't feel like mentally or physically I was ready for the NBA. [5:59] And I wanted to become a better person, better player. [6:01] I wanted to develop pro habits. [6:03] So, I feel like I accomplished all those things in Michigan and I locked a different version of myself that I didn't know was inside. [6:10] First round. [6:11] Jared and ASEANNBA.com. [6:13] You mentioned earlier about you bring versatility, defensive intangibles, and IQ. [6:18] You get to play with one of the highest, most versatile guys in Draymond Green on that side of the ball. [6:23] High IQ player also with Steph Curry and the rest of the... [6:26] Steve Curry even coaching you just... [6:28] What's that going to be like to learn from those guys and just be a sponge the entire year? [6:31] No, I'm super excited. [6:33] Draymond was a pivotal, pivotal piece to all the championships that they've won. [6:37] You know, he's a phenomenal player, a phenomenal, you know, pastor, all that stuff. [6:41] He does all the little things well, you know. [6:43] So, I feel like learning from him and trying to get him to be my vet would be the most crucial part for me and my development. [6:50] You know, he's a good guy. [6:52] I know he's a Michigan State guy, so it's not really, you know, I'm not too far into that. [6:56] But I'm definitely excited to be able to meet him, speak to him in person, and learn. [7:01] Just learn everything I can. [7:03] Last round the middle. [7:05] Hey, Axel. [7:06] I'm also BL Hairwood with Anscape. [7:08] My question for you, this is June. [7:10] It's Men's Mental Health Month. [7:12] Going into this next chapter of your life, what is something that you're working on to keep your mind strong? [7:17] I definitely work a lot on just positive self-chatter. [7:20] My entire life, I was my worst critic. [7:23] I still kind of am now. [7:24] But I've gotten a lot better at using meditation, using prayer, music, using all of that stuff. [7:30] Just to slow my mind down, ease my system, and find somewhere deep down to believe in myself and know that I'm actually worth everything that I've been doing and I actually deserve this. [7:41] For sure. [7:42] One little follow-up to the jersey number. [7:44] Someone just reminded me. [7:46] What if Draymond says you could have number 23 if you rock Michigan State gear for the entire season? [7:55] Nah. [7:56] Nah. [7:57] I'm not doing that, man. [7:58] I hate those guys. [7:59] I've only been there for one year, but I definitely hate those guys. [8:01] That's all that they were saying, and they can't really say much because, you know, I went 2-0 against them this year. [8:06] So they're going to be little brother for me forever, and I'm not going to represent the losers ever. [8:12] Thank you, Axel. [8:12] Thank you. [8:13] You're good. [8:15] Thank you, guys.