Las Vegas Basketball Center headquarters the Golden State Warriors every July, hosting their training and practices when they’re here for NBA Summer League. Its walls are lined with their color scheme and photos from their dynastic days, but room remains for a championship banner so long as they choose to hang one next summer.
“Why not?” second-year guard LJ Cryer said Sunday in the guts of the Thomas & Mack Center, trophy in hand after helping the Warriors beat the Memphis Grizzlies in the championship game.
“We went through the grind of staying in Vegas the whole time. Kind of feels like the bubble a little bit, being in the hotel all time but, yeah, I mean, why not?”
Perhaps when next year’s summer league squad convenes in Las Vegas, a banner will hang, but if it doesn’t, this group of Warriors has its championship rings and its memories to boot. They erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to score a 94-90 win courtesy of rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg’s personal go-ahead 7-0 run. Drafted 11th from Michigan, where he helped the Wolverines win the national title, Lendeborg finished with 21 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and championship MVP honors.
Golden State legend and Hall of Fame forward Rick Barry presented second-year Warriors wing Will Richard with the gold-plated trophy, extending the celebration that already began with a joyous halfcourt gathering. Lendeborg raised his MVP plate with both hands toward the ceiling and a smile on his face, drawing applause from his teammates behind him — along with dozens of spectators.
“Their butts got tight, man. Puckered up, you know what I mean?” Lendeborg said, following a floater with the go-ahead triple and an 18-footer.
“When you get those opportunities like that and you go attack the moment, then you know you belong in the moment. Our spirit, our will, our desire to not lose is pretty much what helped us out that game.”
The Warriors won five of six in Las Vegas to claim their second summer league title (2013), riding their prized rookie, Richard (a backend rotational contributor last year as a second-round pick) and Cryer (a two-way signee who played in the G League, occasionally cracking Golden State’s rotation) as leaders of a veteran squad. Lendeborg didn’t miss a game in Las Vegas, bucking the trend among lottery draftees shelved midway through summer league.
Neither did Grizzlies forward Cameron Boozer, the No. 3 pick in last month’s draft who had 19 points Sunday, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. Memphis also played former lottery picks Cedric Coward (2025) and Taylor Hendricks (2023), who had 19 and 13 points, respectively.
“I’ve got to continue to prove myself,” Lendeborg said. “I still don’t think I’m there as far as — as best I can be or as confident as I can be. So, I’m going to go out there every day and try to play as much as I can. I got drafted to play basketball. I didn’t get drafted to watch.”
Summer league staffers presented Golden State with black summer league championship T-shirts, promptly worn by players, coaches and the gaggle of executives still in town. The trophy was subsequently passed around for the Warriors to hold in photos with pride.
Second-year guard Deivon Smith had 21 points, Cryer scored 15 and Richard scored 13.
“It’s been a long few weeks for sure,” Richard said, “but it’s been great. Everybody’s been bought in from the jump. Very selfless and made it fun to compete.”
What about a banner?
“Might as well,” Richard added. “We haven’t won one since 2013, so we might as well do something here. For sure.”
Consolation games
Brooklyn 108, Oklahoma City 90: John Ukomadu came off the bench to score 23 for Brooklyn. Steven Ashworth had 22 points for Oklahoma City.
Denver 96, Toronto 89: Jahmi’us Ramsey had 20 points and eight rebounds for Denver. Nimari Burnett had 15 points for Toronto.
Contact Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on X.
