Michigan basketball stars shine in NBA summer league as Lendeborg wins another championship, MVP award

Michigan's basketball program showcased its NBA talent during the 2026 Summer League, with eight former Wolverines competing professionally. The headline story was Yaxel Lendeborg, the No. 11 overall pick for the Golden State Warriors, who led the team to the championship while earning MVP honors. Lendeborg scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the title game and averaged 14.9 points and 6.8 rebounds across the tournament, shooting efficiently from both the field and three-point range. He became only the second player in NCAA and NBA history to win a national championship and Summer League title in the same year.

Other Michigan lottery picks also made strong impressions: Morez Johnson Jr. averaged 18.5 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Dallas Mavericks, while Aday Mara contributed 9.2 points and 7.0 rebounds for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Former first-round pick Kobe Bufkin led the New Orleans Pelicans in scoring at 21.3 points per game before being shut down. Additional Michigan alumni including Danny Wolf, Nimari Burnett, Vladislav Goldin, and Roddy Gayle Jr. (playing for the Detroit Pistons) all contributed to their respective NBA Summer League squads.