The Golden State Warriors defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 94-90 in the 2026 NBA Summer League championship, with Yaxel Lendeborg outdueling Cameron Boozer to secure their second title in franchise history at Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center.
The Golden State Warriors clinched their second NBA Summer League championship in franchise history on Sunday, defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 94-90 in a tightly contested final at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Yaxel Lendeborg emerged as the standout performer, leading the Warriors with 21 points and 10 rebounds while outlasting Memphis’ Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 overall pick, who finished with 19 points and 8 rebounds.
Lendeborg’s Dominance Defines the Victory
Lendeborg, the 11th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, delivered a game-winning performance that underscored his ability to thrive under pressure. The University of Michigan alum, who helped secure the Wolverines’ NCAA title last season, showcased his clutch gene by scoring seven straight points in the fourth quarter to seal the Warriors’ victory. His 21-point, 10-rebound line came on 9-of-18 shooting, including a pivotal 3-pointer that gave Golden State an 89-87 lead.
Coming into this program, I just wanted to prove that I'm a winner,
Lendeborg said, per ESPN. Doing stuff like this — not caring about the stats and just caring about the outcome. I'm going to continue to push that into next season with the bigger Warriors. … At Michigan, we played team ball. Here, we play team ball. That’s what wins games and championships.
The Warriors’ victory marked their second Summer League title, joining the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers as the only teams to win the event multiple times since its inception in 2013. Golden State’s path to the championship was anything but straightforward: they trailed by 10 points entering the fourth quarter. Lendeborg’s fourth-quarter surge, combined with 21 points off the bench from Deivon Smith and 15 points from LJ Cryer, turned the tide.
Boozer’s Effort Falls Short in Defeat
Boozer, the Duke product selected third in the 2026 Draft, carried the Grizzlies for much of the game, scoring 10 of his 19 points in the third quarter, including a 3-pointer in the final seconds to extend a Grizzlies lead to 76-66. His 46.3% field-goal accuracy and 29.4% 3-point shooting across five Summer League games had generated optimism about his NBA potential. However, his final moments in the championship were marred by two critical missed opportunities: a contested layup against Lendeborg’s defense and a missed open 3-pointer with 13 seconds left.
Their butts got tight,
Lendeborg said of the Grizzlies’ collapse, per ESPN. They puckered up. Some of us are built for the moment and some aren't.
Boozer’s performance, while impressive overall, included 7-of-17 shooting and 4 turnovers.
The Grizzlies’ Cedric Coward provided valuable support, scoring 19 points on 5-of-5 3-point shooting. The loss did little to diminish Boozer’s prospects, as his 18.4-point average and 8.0-rebound per game stat line in the tournament solidified his status as a potential starter in Memphis.
Warriors’ Legacy and Future Implications
The Warriors’ victory cements their reputation as a Summer League powerhouse, with Lendeborg joining Davion Mitchell as the only players to win an NCAA title and a Vegas summer league title in the same year.
Lendeborg’s performance suggests he could be a key contributor for the Warriors in the 2026-27 season. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies’ focus shifts to integrating Boozer and Coward into their long-term rebuild, with the franchise having turned the page on Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
For now, the Warriors celebrate their second Summer League title, while the Grizzlies reflect on a near-miss that could still shape their future. As Lendeborg put it, At Michigan, we played team ball. Here, we play team ball. That’s what wins games and championships.
Sources: Yahoo Sports.
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