​In Los Angeles, California on April 10, LeBron James, wearing number 23 for the Los Angeles Lakers, surveyed the action from the first half as his team faced the Phoenix Suns at Crypto.com Arena. The image, captured by Sean M. Haffey for Getty Images, accompanies a report about the ongoing free agency story surrounding James and the teams pursuing him. The Golden State Warriors aren’t the obvious frontrunners for James anymore, but they remain in the mix as contenders for his services as free agency progresses. While several clubs are making their pitches, a case can be made that teaming him with Stephen Curry represents the most compelling option currently on the table.
Of course, Curry isn’t the only lure tied to Golden State. Iconic figures such as head coach Steve Kerr and star forward Draymond Green continue to be central to the Warriors’ pitch. The franchise also welcomed a newer face, rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who has joined the team and is eager to contribute. While Lendeborg understands he isn’t the primary reason James would consider the Warriors, he nonetheless seized the chance to extend an invitation to the future Hall of Famer.
After missing the playoffs, Golden State secured the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and used it on Lendeborg. His path to the pros included three years at junior college before transferring to the UAB Blazers, where he played for two seasons. Lendeborg’s profile rose significantly during his standout season with the Michigan Wolverines, helping them capture the 2026 National Championship. He posted solid numbers for Michigan, averaging 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists per game, with a 51.5 percent field-goal rate. Yet transitioning to the professional level will be a challenge, especially given the high expectations that come with being a lottery pick and the urgency for the Warriors to maximize Curry’s championship window.
Bringing a veteran presence like James into the fold could be exactly what Golden State needs to push past a current plateau. Like many Warriors players, Lendeborg would be thrilled at the prospect of James joining the team. He understands, however, that he isn’t the primary driver in James’s decision, which is why his message to the Lakers star centers on Curry and Green as the compelling core around which to build.
“I know you don’t gravitate toward rookies, but I’m not your typical rookie,” Lendeborg stated to Bleacher Report. “I’d love to learn under you. If you’re looking to team up with the greatest shooter of all time and a close friend in Draymond, it would be incredible to come to the Warriors, and we’d be honored to have you.”
The image shows LeBron James with the Lakers during that April 10 game against the Suns, a moment that sits within a broader narrative about Golden State’s offseason ambitions. The Warriors’ plan at the outset was ambitious: to sign James and, by doing so, to recreate a formidable pairing with a returning former Lakers teammate, Anthony, in an effort to boost their title hopes and optimize Curry’s window.