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Michigan Wolverines men’s basketball star Yaxel Lendeborg suggested in a recent interview that he could have raised money if he had chosen to play elsewhere.
Lendeborg was among the top players in the transfer portal at the start of the 2025-26 season as he was set to leave the UAB Blazers. He ultimately committed to Michigan, but said he was offered a significant amount 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 down a piece of net after their victory against Michigan State in an NCAA college basketball game in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
“They started with $7 (million) to $9 (million),” he told The Associated Press in an article published Monday evening. “They were driving off like we would pay him anything to get here.”
Instead, he chose to play for Dusty May instead of Mark Pope.
“I grew up without it and I’ve spent my whole life without it,” Lendeborg said. “Anything could make me super, super happy at that moment.
“I was thinking long term. What if I wasted my career because I was chasing money instead of a future? Another big reason I chose Dusty was because he wasn’t about money at all. It was all 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 championship of the Big Ten conference tournament at United Center on March 15, 2026. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Imagn Images)
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Lendeborg has become one of the best players in the country during the 2025-26 season, with his NBA potential increasing as well.
He averaged 14.4 points and 7 rebounds per game with the Wolverines. Michigan earned first place in the Midwest Region of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Kentucky has seventh place in the same region.
The Wildcats were criticized by ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale earlier this month for being unable to perform better with a roster loaded thanks to name, image and likeness (NIL) deals.
“I’ll say it here, I played in several Kentucky games, win or lose, $22 million for that team. [which has been reported] in terms of NIL for their players,” he said. “I think with $22 million they could have put together a better team than they did. Really.”
Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) dribbles as Purdue Boilermakers guard CJ Cox (0) defends during the second half during the men’s championship of the Big Ten conference tournament at United Center on March 15, 2026. (David Banks/Imagn Images)
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Kentucky is 21-13 this season.
