Yaxel Landburg, the 24-year-old forward chosen 11th overall in the NBA draft overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, will join Golden State in an unexpected rise that many in the U.S. said came earlier than projected. He is the oldest player selected that high in 20 years, and because of that he grew up watching the iconic Cleveland-Golden State Finals.
"This is a full-circle moment for me," Landburg said. "I'm a huge Kyrie Irving fan, so I hated Stephen Curry during their 2016 series." Irving played three Finals series against Curry, and was injured after the first game of the first one.
Landburg is viewed as a long, versatile forward who can help on both defense and offense. He arrives after winning the college championship under Dallas coach Dusty May, and ClutchPoints writer Brett Siegel said teams believed he would go around picks 15 to 17 and thought he would still be available later.
Two other players from the national champion's starting five also went in the lottery, Morz Johnson Jr. at No. 9 to Dallas, and Adai Mara at No. 12. That means three starters from the college champion were taken in the lottery.