Yaxel Lendeborg has turned heads early at the NBA combine. His stellar performance all but guarantees he won’t slip to the No. 14 overall pick for the Charlotte Hornets.
Lendeborg has been a prime draft target for the Hornets, as his do-it-all skillset at the forward position is highly coveted. His older age was always the one thing holding him back, but the combine is putting that narrative to rest.
Yaxel Lendeborg has impressed at the NBA combine so far
The first thing that jumped off the screen were his raw measurements. Lendeborg checked in at 6’8.75”, 241.4 pounds, with a 7’3.25” wingspan and a 9’0.5” standing reach. Those are elite numbers—and they line up almost identically with Bam Adebayo’s profile. For a Hornets frontcourt desperate for a more physical, versatile anchor, finding someone built like Adebayo is exactly what you hope for.
The next day, Lendeborg backed up the measurements with movement skills. In the pro lane agility drill, he glided through each segment, showing impressive lateral quickness and burst for a player his size.
Then came the spot‑up shooting drill, where he caught fire. After a slow start from the corner, he drilled 11 straight threes, mostly from the top of the key and the wing—an encouraging sign for a player whose offensive growth is questionable due to age.
After just a few days at the combine, Lendeborg’s stock is already rising fast. For Hornets fans, that might be the worst part of the story.
Yaxel Lendeborg will most likely hear his name called early on draft night
With Lendeborg essentially meeting or exceeding every single expectation so far at the combine, it’s safe to say he’s most likely a lottery pick. There are competitive teams ahead of Charlotte who could realistically draft him, like Golden State or Oklahoma City.
Lendeborg profiles as a day one impact for every single team in the NBA. You could make a real case that he was the best player in college basketball this year, and that carries a lot of weight.
The Hornets could always try to package their two first-round picks and move up to select him. The problem is that this class has a lot of awesome prospects near the top, so there may not be many suitors willing to move down.
If he somehow does slide in the draft, the Hornets should waste no time in their selection.
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