Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg owns the spotlight with hilarious rookie initiation appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Yaxel Lendeborg has spent the preseason showing the Golden State Warriors he is ready for a big role. On Sunday, he showed the fans he is ready for the stage, too. At the Warriors’ open practice at Chase Center, the rookie forward stepped up to the microphone for the team’s annual rookie karaoke and delivered a rendition of Carl Carlton’s 1981 funk hit “She’s a Bad Mama Jama.”
Lendeborg did not just sing it, either. He worked the crowd throughout the performance, according to Danny Emerman of The San Francisco Standard, who shared a clip from the arena.
“She’s a Bad Mama Jama” by Yaxel Lendeborg, with some serious crowd work from the rookie.
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Warriors’ karaoke tradition at open practice continues. pic.twitter.com/6rVdNUmUFm
— Danny Emerman (@DannyEmerman) October 18, 2026
The rookie karaoke has become a staple of the event, which gives fans a $5 look at the team before the regular season, with proceeds benefiting the Warriors Community Foundation.
The performance was a fun moment for a player who has quickly become one of the most important pieces of Golden State’s plans. The Warriors selected Lendeborg with the 11th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft after he helped Michigan win the national championship, averaging 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds as a First-Team All-American.
He took a winding path to get there. Lendeborg spent three years in junior college and two seasons at UAB before transferring to Michigan for his final year.
His role in the NBA could be bigger than most rookies get. With Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody sidelined for at least a few months and Kristaps Porzingis out indefinitely, Steve Kerr needs production, and he has made that clear.
“We need him to be a scorer,” Kerr said earlier in the preseason.
Lendeborg has answered. He started alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in an exhibition against the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 10 and put up 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting, 10 rebounds and six assists in just 23 minutes of a 111-106 win. He followed that with 17 points in the Warriors’ 101-89 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Las Vegas.
The real thing starts soon. Golden State opens the regular season against the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 21, and Lendeborg will look to bring the same confidence he showed with a microphone in hand.
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