Yaxel Lendeborg grew up a Steph Curry hater. Now he’ll learn from him as teammates
2026 NBA
Draft
LIVE
Draft Round 250s ago
Winners & LosersRound 2 MockLive Picks TrackerBest Available PlayersDybantsa Goes No. 1Yaxel Lendeborg grew up a Steph Curry hater. Now he’ll learn from him as teammates
Yaxel Lendeborg takes the podium after being selected by the Warriors with the No. 11 pick. Caleb Bowlin / Getty Images
SAN FRANCISCO — After being selected by the team Stephen Curry has helped make famous over the last two decades, new Golden State Warriors big man Yaxel Lendeborg revealed that he wasn’t always a fan of the man at the center of his new NBA team.
“It’s a full-circle moment for me,” Lendeborg told reporters in New York after being selected with the 11th pick while answering a question about what it was like being drafted to play alongside Curry. “I’ve been saying this every time I get asked this question. In 2016, I (was) a big Kyrie (Irving) guy, so I used to hate Steph Curry.
“So now that I’m actually going to be on the same team as him, play with him and learn so much from him, it means a lot. I’ve met him a couple of times. He’s a great guy, a genuine person. It’s going to be an honor to watch what he does in person. So I’m very excited.”
NBA Draft 2026: Winners and Losers from Round 1Zach Harper and CJ MooreLendeborg isn’t the only one excited about his arrival in the Bay. Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said after Wednesday’s draft that he believes Lendeborg, who will be 24 when the season begins, can contribute right away. Lendeborg, who helped the Michigan Wolverines win a national championship in April, impressed Warriors personnel with his attitude when he met with members of the front office during his pre-draft workout visit.
“He’s got a positive presence,” Dunleavy said. “He’s got a good vibe. We had dinner with him, an official interview, watched some film with him, and got him in our building. He’s just the kind of guy who seems like he has a great day every day. That was my takeaway. When you bring those types of people into the building, it uplifts everybody. I think he’ll be one of those guys.”
Golden State Warriors select Yaxel Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft
Lendeborg is a multi-time defensive award winner in college. He should fit with the Warriors immediately.
The person who sets the tone every day for the Warriors is the same man Lendeborg admitted he disliked as a teenage fan. Minutes after finishing his workout with the Warriors earlier this month, he was asked the same question so many players — young and old — hear while sitting at the podium inside Chase Center: What would it mean to play with the man widely regarded as the greatest shooter of all time?
As he answered, he hinted at the truth that would come to the forefront shortly after Curry’s team drafted him.
“It would be amazing,” Lendeborg said at the time. “He provides so much gravity on the court that it really makes it super easy for other guys to score, for other guys to showcase any ability they have. I’ve had so many arguments defending Kyrie and going against Steph when I was younger with my best friend. If I were able to play with him, it would be kind of funny being on the other end, but I would be very excited to get that opportunity.”
Lendeborg has that opportunity now. The Warriors are hoping he can run with it. They’re also confident he’ll fit into the locker room quickly. Lendeborg said after his Warriors workout that he’s a “very real, honest guy,” but that he doesn’t mind “goofing off” here and there.
Like so many players before him, Lendeborg believes he’ll benefit from playing alongside Curry and the space he creates for his teammates. With Tuesday’s selection, he also has the type of rare opportunity young players hardly ever get: the chance to play with an all-time great he once rooted against because of how often that player’s team beat his favorite star.
In two brief meetings with Curry before the draft, Lendeborg could already see that Curry wasn’t quite the person he had grown to know through television.
“He’s a great player, a great human being as well,” Lendeborg said earlier in June. “I got to meet him twice, so he’s really nice. I would learn a lot from playing with him as well. You can just tell he’s a genuine human being and actually cares for the younger guys.”
Connections: Sports Edition
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
