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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
The Golden State Warriors won the 2026 NBA Summer League by dominating the Memphis Grizzlies 94 to 90, on Sunday, July 19, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Trailing by ten points at the start of the final quarter, the Californians staged a spectacular comeback to clinch the trophy in a suspenseful final that kept the 18,000 spectators on the edge of their seats until the last possession.
The rookie Yaxel Lendeborg was the main architect of this summer triumph. Scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the final, the 23-year-old forward was also named MVP of the entire competition on Tuesday, July 21. Over six games played in Nevada, he averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.5 steals, all while shooting 35.7% from three-point range. A complete stat line that convinced Golden State's staff to give him a real chance this fall. This Pennsylvania native, who arrived in California after two solid college seasons with the UAB Blazers in Alabama, was not the most anticipated name of this summer class. The Summer League is often the stage for unexpected revelations, and Lendeborg is the perfect example.
The rookie Yaxel Lendeborg was the main architect of this summer triumph.
A scorching fourth quarter
The script of this final turned in the last twelve minutes. Memphis, propelled by formidable outside shooting in the first half, seemed to have taken a definitive lead by going up 72-62 after three quarters. The Grizzlies' defense had silenced the Californian offense for thirty-six minutes, alternating double teams and aggressive rotations on ball handlers. The young prospects from Tennessee seemed to have found the recipe to contain Golden State's collective, despite its reputation for ball movement.
Golden State then raised its defensive intensity a notch, forcing seven opponent turnovers in the decisive period alone and converting every Tennessee mistake into a momentum shift. Deivon Smith, coming off the bench, also scored 21 points, including three consecutive three-pointers in the tensest moments of the game. His energy infected the entire Californian group, which delivered a resounding 32-18 run against the Grizzlies in the fourth quarter. Undrafted in 2025, the 23-year-old point guard confirms, game after game, that he deserves a spot on the roster for the regular season. His ability to create rhythm off the bench recalls the role Jordan Poole played during the early championships of the Kerr era.
Lendeborg, the revelation of the summer
Able to defend multiple positions thanks to his wingspan and lateral mobility, Yaxel Lendeborg proved in Las Vegas that he can impact both ends of the floor with surprising consistency for a player his age. His three-point shooting, combined with already mature game reading, makes him a credible candidate to join Steve Kerr's rotation as early as October.
In a Western Conference where every franchise seeks depth without blowing up its salary cap, a profile as versatile as his is worth its weight in gold. The memory of Draymond Green, selected 35th in 2012 before becoming a pillar of the dynasty, looms over this kind of discovery. Lendeborg was also undrafted: he embodies the Warriors' tradition of unearthing talent off the beaten path, where others don't look. The Bay Area franchise, coming off a disappointing 2025-2026 season that ended in the first round of the playoffs against the Nuggets, needs this kind of spark to regain its edge.
Memphis leaves with promise
For the Grizzlies, the disappointment of this final should not overshadow reasons for hope. The roster fielded in Las Vegas included several promising young talents, and the run to the final validates the development work carried out by the Tennessee franchise. Last season, Memphis had already reached the semifinals of the summer tournament, a sign of consistency in developing its young prospects. The contingent of rookies and players on expiring contracts who battled to the end in Nevada will have scored points with the front office.
For Golden State, this July trophy obviously doesn't carry the weight of an NBA championship ring. But in a league where the line between contender and also-ran is often drawn by bench depth, seeing a rookie like Lendeborg blossom in a Warriors jersey reminds us that the Bay Area franchise still knows how to find rare gems. The 2026-2027 season will tell whether this summer class was a flash in the pan or the beginning of a new Californian wave.
