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Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball star Yaxel Lendeborg suggested in a recent interview that he could have been making money if he had chosen to play elsewhere.
Lendeborg was among the top players in the transfer portal entering the 2025-26 season, as he was on the verge of leaving the UAB Blazers. He ultimately committed to Michigan, but said they offered him a lot of money to play for the Kentucky Wildcats.
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Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg celebrates the team’s regular-season Big Ten Championship by cutting a piece of net following its victory over Michigan State in an NCAA college basketball game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
“They started the figure with between $7 (million) and $9 (million),” he told The Associated Press in an article published Monday night. “They were going off the route as if we were paying them anything to get here.”
Instead, he chose to play for Dusty May instead of Mark Pope.
“I grew up without him and spent my entire life without him,” Lendeborg said. “Anything would make me super, super happy at that moment.
“I was thinking long term. What if I ruined my career because I was chasing money instead of a future? Another big reason I chose Dusty was because he didn’t talk about money at all. He was about making me better and helping me achieve my goals.”
Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) looks to pass as Purdue Boilermakers guard Gicarri Harris (24) defends during the first half of the Men’s Big Ten Conference Tournament Championship at the United Center on March 15, 2026. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Imagn Images)
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Lendeborg emerged as one of the best players in the country during the 2025-26 season and his NBA potential increased as well.
He is averaging 14.4 points and 7 rebounds per game with the Wolverines. Michigan earned the number one seed in the Midwest region of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Kentucky is ranked No. 7 in the same region.
The Wildcats received criticism from ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale earlier this month for not being able to perform better with a roster loaded thanks to name, image and likeness (NIL) agreements.
“I’m going to say this right here: I’ve played several Kentucky games, win or lose, this team cost $22 million. [which has been reported] “In terms of NIL for their players,” he said. “I think at $22 million, they could have put together a better roster than they did. I really do.”
Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) dribbles as Purdue Boilermakers guard CJ Cox (0) defends during the second half of the Men’s Big Ten Conference Tournament Championship at the United Center on March 15, 2026. (David Banks/Image Images)
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Kentucky is 21-13 this season.
