​  Michigan basketball star Yaxel Lendeborg may be headed to the NBA’s Golden State Warriors after being picked 11th overall in the NBA Draft, but he’s not forgetting about his Michigan ties.Lendeborg, who led Michigan in scoring en route to the 2026 national championship, wore No. 23 with the Wolverines. Slight problem: That’s the number of Draymond Green, the Michigan State alumnus and four-time NBA champion entering his 15th year in the NBA with Golden State.Jun 23, 2026; New York, NY, USA; Draft prospect Yaxel Lendeborg poses for photos on the red carpet before the 2026 NBA draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesAsked by a reporter if he’d wear Michigan State gear for a season if Green would give him his No. 23, Lendeborg balked — and let a little rivalry heat flare up.“I’m not doing that man, I hate those guys,” Lendeborg said. “I only been there for one year, but I definitely hate those guys. All that they were saying. And they can’t really say much because I went 2-0 against them this year. So they’re gonna be little brother for me forever and I’m not gonna represent the losers. Ever.”Michigan swept Michigan State 83-71 at Breslin Center on Jan. 30 and 90-80 at Crisler Center on March 8, and Lendeborg, 23 years old, played a leading role each time scoring 26 and 27 points in those outings. He averaged 15.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks on the season.Those two rivalry games came with a heavy dose of animosity. Michigan coach Dusty May’s aggressive, portal-heavy roster building drew the ire of some old guard coaches who felt he crossed lines in the process. Then Michigan State coach Tom Izzo beefed over May’s comments after the first rivalry game about MSU point guard Jeremy Fears Jr.’s “dangerous” plays and foul-baiting. The second time around, Fears kicked Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau between the legs — the second time he’d done that during the season — in Ann Arbor. The scene drew boos and chants from the crowd, which turned to those routine rivalry jeers of “little brother” after the Wolverines sealed the win. After the game, Izzo defended his program.“I’m nobody’s damn little brother, and neither is my team,” Izzo said.More: Michigan State can do ‘something special’ with Jeremy Fears returnMichigan lost in the Big Ten Tournament championship game but sprinted through the NCAA Tournament, beating Arizona in the Final Four and UConn, who’d beaten the Spartans in the Sweet 16, to win the national championship. Lendeborg played that game on a bum knee after spraining it against Arizona.May left for the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, and Tuesday he drafted Michigan player Morez Johnson Jr. ninth overall. Aday Mara went 12th overall to Oklahoma City to make three Wolverines picked in the first 12 selections.Lendeborg, the Big Ten Player of the Year      ​Read More