For Lendeborgs, being drafted by Warriors is “dream come true”

SAN FRANCISCO – While answering questions about Steph Curry, Steve Kerr and the Warriors, the organization’s newest first-round draft pick Yaxel Lendeborg repeatedly flashed a wide smile.

Sitting a few feet away in the first row of the news conference at Chase Center on Friday, his mother beamed with pride.

“It’s a dream come true,” Yissel Raposo said. “When he was little, I asked him too many times, ‘What do you want to do when you grow up?’ And he’d say the NBA. So it’s a dream come true for us and for Yaxel too.”

Making his mother, who is battling cancer, proud has been a driving force for Lendeborg during his journey to being the No. 11 pick in the NBA draft.

“Those moments are why I have become so mentally strong, and I always am grateful in every room I walk in, no matter the circumstances,” Lendeborg said.

The room Lendeborg is now walking in has him positioned as the heir apparent to two future Hall of Famers, including one that is right next to him in the locker room.

“They put my locker right next to Steph’s,” Lendeborg said. “I know we’ve got a lot of work to do to become best friends and all, but I’m definitely excited. I’m going to be able to learn as much as I can from him. Hopefully some of his shooting can rub off on me, and we can go a long way.”

Lendeborg, 23, might have made waves on draft night with his comments about being both a Kyrie Irving fan and a onetime Curry hater, but he said Curry welcomed him to the team in a group chat with himself and Draymond Green.

Sitting next to the Warriors’ second-round pick, Lajae Jones, Lendeborg laid out a logical roadmap for being successful and fitting into the Warriors’ veteran locker room.

“I feel like all we have to do is go in there, ask a lot of questions, be ourselves, and just learn as much as we can so we can have a successful long journey, as well,” said Lendeborg, who was born in Puerto Rico but grew up in New Jersey.

Though Lendeborg said he is not the most enthusiastic screener, he noted that as a part of his game he will have to “learn to love” if he is to get consistent minutes under Kerr.

At 240 pounds, Lendeborg saw himself as a big wing and power forward, but seemed hesitant to envision himself as a five-man.

On Michigan’s national championship-winning team, Lendeborg played almost-exclusively forward, as fellow lottery picks Morez Johnson and Aday Mara slotted in at center.

But while Lendeborg will be asked to take on minutes on the wing as Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody are expected to miss most of next season with knee injuries, taking a shift or two at center could be something he will reluctantly have to do.

“Center, I don’t think so much,” Lendeborg said. “I’ve got to get a little tougher. Small forward, I definitely feel like will be the easiest position to develop at or flow into, but I’m willing to do whatever the team needs. If they need a small-ball five who can stretch the floor out, then I’ll be able to use that against bigger defenders and slower defenders.”

Jones, who was picked No. 54 overall, is best known for making 3-pointers at Florida State last season, and before that, St. Bonaventure. But when asked about his skillset, the 6-foot-7 wing pointed the attention toward the less-glamorous aspects of the game.

“I can just set a lot of barely legal screens to get my teammates open,” Jones said. “I feel like my most underrated part of my game is my passing. It might not lead to assists, but it’ll lead to a good shot, as well.”

After fielding questions, both rookies posed with their new jerseys. Lendeborg will wear No. 1, and Jones will don No. 25.

Both players are expected to play in Summer League, which begins on July 3 and runs to July 6 at Chase Center and then continues in Las Vegas from July 9-19.

“The Summer League opportunity for these guys, both here at the Cali Classic and in Vegas, you get seven, eight, nine games under your belt, which is fantastic,” Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy said. “They’ll get their first taste of professional basketball, get a little bit of a feel how we do things and then get a break before training camp starts.”