Yaxel Lendeborg to Dusty May: Pick Me Up or 'I Might Block Him' As Draft Kicks Off!

Alright Seattle, the 2026 NBA Draft is HERE! Tonight, careers are made, dreams realized, and the league officially gets a whole new look. But before a single pick hits the board in the first round, we've got some wild news brewing, and it involves an NCAA Champion coach and his star player! Turns out, Michigan head coach Dusty May, who just led the Wolverines to the NCAA Championship, is reportedly bouncing! He's expected to accept a new head coaching job with the Dallas Mavericks. Talk about a bombshell right before his guys are set to hear their names called! And one of those guys, Yaxel Lendeborg, isn't holding back on what that means for him.

Coach May Makes a Shocking Leap to Dallas

Can you even believe this? On the *eve* of the biggest night for his players, Coach May is making moves of his own. The man who just delivered an NCAA Championship to Michigan is now apparently headed to the Dallas Mavericks. He'll still be at Barclays Center tonight, supporting his former players Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson, and Aday Mara, as they chase their NBA dreams. But wow, the timing on this is absolutely wild. It really puts a whole new spin on the draft for these Michigan guys, doesn't it? The first round kicks off tonight, June 23rd, and

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this news is just cranking up the drama.

Yaxel Lendeborg's Bold Demand for His Former Coach

And speaking of Yaxel Lendeborg, the power forward isn't shy about making his intentions known regarding his coach's reported new job. When asked about a potential reunion with Dusty May in Dallas, Lendeborg laid it all out there, saying, "I'm going to tell him he better pick me up. If he doesn't, I'm going to be mad, I might block him. But it would be amazing being able to stick with him." Man, you gotta love that fire! Lendeborg's 6'10", 240 pounds, a force on the court, and clearly not afraid to speak his mind off it. Imagine if Dallas *did* draft him. That'd be an incredible storyline! These three Wolverines, Champions just last season, are the names we're tracking closely:

• Yaxel Lendeborg, PF, 6'10", 240 lbs
• Morez Johnson, PF/C, 6'10", 250 lbs
• Aday Mara, C, 7'4", 260 lbs

So tonight, all eyes are on the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. Will Dusty May listen to Lendeborg's not-so-subtle plea? Will these Michigan champs get picked up by teams ready to make some noise? The second round follows tomorrow, June 24th, but the drama is already hitting peak levels. You *know* we'll be glued to every single pick, watching how this plays out and what it means for the league's next generation. Let's GO!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.