Warriors Draft Discord
Warriors Owner Joe Lacob, GM Mike Dunleavy Debated Tensely Over Key Draft Pick
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Key Points
1
Lendeborg is 23 years old, making him one of the oldest players in the 2026 draft, which suggests the Warriors were prioritizing immediate rotation contribution over long-term upside.
2
ESPN's draft broadcast reportedly showed owner Joe Lacob in an animated, possibly tense discussion with GM Mike Dunleavy just before the pick, captured via hand gestures and without audio.
3
There were other high-upside options on the board, such as Aday Mara and Nate Ament, which fueled speculation that the in-room disagreement may have been about more than just this single pick.
4
Lendeborg arrived as a 6'9
ESPN's draft broadcast cameras caught something unusual on June 24: Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob and GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. in a tense, 90-second exchange just before the team submitted the 11th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Minutes later, Commissioner Adam Silver announced Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg as the selection — the oldest first-round prospect in the draft at 23 years old.
Dunleavy addressed the moment head-on after the picks were in. "There was a lot of healthy debate — that's what a good front office does," he said, according to Sacramento Bee. The exchange has since sparked wide debate about whether the Warriors' front office is united heading into what may be Stephen Curry's final competitive seasons.
What the Camera Captured in the War Room
At 8:16 PM Eastern, ESPN's "War Room Cam" showed Lacob standing and gesturing emphatically at a seated Dunleavy. The exchange lasted roughly 90 seconds. Then, according to NBC Sports Bay Area, Lacob walked away from the main table to speak privately with Executive Vice President Kirk Lacob. The pick was submitted six minutes later.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski was direct in his read of the moment. "That was not a 'celebration' conversation," he said. "That was a disagreement over the direction of the franchise. Dunleavy wanted the floor; Lacob wanted the ceiling." Dunleavy appeared alone at the post-draft press conference. Lacob showed up 20 minutes later, briefly.
Why Lendeborg Was Dunleavy's Pick to Win Now
Lendeborg is 23 years old — in the oldest 5% of first-round picks over the past decade, per DraftExpress. He posted 18.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game in his senior year at Michigan, shooting 39% from three on 4.2 attempts. At 6'9" with a 7'2" wingspan, analysts compared him to a "more athletic Draymond Green."
Dunleavy reportedly championed Lendeborg as the "safest, most NBA-ready" option available. Stephen Curry, now 38, was reportedly consulted by text during the clock and favored an immediate-impact player, according to The Sacramento Bee. His four-year rookie deal is worth roughly $21.4 million, with $4.8 million in Year 1, per Spotrac.
Lacob Wanted the Ceiling — Ament and Mara Were Still on the Board
Sources cited by The Ringer suggest Lacob was drawn to Nate Ament, a high-upside prospect he viewed as a cornerstone for the post-Curry era. Aday Mara, another long-term project, was also still available. Choosing Lendeborg over both signaled that Dunleavy's "win-now" argument carried the day — though the camera suggested it wasn't easy.
The friction echoes a familiar Warriors wound. According to Bleacher Report, the organization has never fully moved past the 2020 decision to pick James Wiseman over LaMelo Ball — another case where ownership's preference for upside clashed with the basketball staff's read on fit. That pick set the franchise back years.
Dunleavy's Job Security Now Tied to Lendeborg's Production
Yahoo Sports reports that Dunleavy's contract status is already a topic of internal discussion. If Lendeborg struggles to crack Steve Kerr's rotation, the war room footage will likely be replayed as the moment the owner-GM relationship broke down. The Warriors missed the 2025 playoffs by two games, making the pressure to deliver in 2026-27 immense.
The Warriors' official framing, echoed by NBC Sports Bay Area, is that the exchange was "passionate basketball talk" — proof the organization cares about every decision. But the optics are hard to ignore. Lacob's public statement — "Tonight was about finding the best Golden State Warrior" — was notably vague on whether he agreed with the pick.
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