Golden State Warriors Missed Brayden Burries in NBA Draft
The Golden State Warriors entered the 2026 NBA Draft with high hopes of landing one of their favorite prospects, Brayden Burries. However, the Milwaukee Bucks selected Burries one pick before the Warriors went on the clock, prompting a memorable reaction from head coach Steve Kerr. Last result: LA Clippers 115-110 Golden State Warriors (2026-04-13).
According to a recent report by ESPN's Anthony Slater, the Warriors' front office was given an indication around the eighth selection that Burries likely would not reach them. Despite this, hope remained until Milwaukee officially announced the pick. Team sources said the Warriors' front office was given an indication around the eighth selection that Burries wouldn't make it to them, but there was still an audible groan from Kerr, those in the room said, when Burries was officially selected by the Bucks.
The report aligns with information previously shared by ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel after the draft concluded. Siegel reported that the plan was to target Brayden Burries in the NBA Draft for this role, and Golden State believed they were about to do so after both the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks passed on him with the eighth and ninth overall picks, respectively. But the Bucks took Burries right before the Warriors, leading them to go with another player high on their draft board - Yaxel Lendeborg.
Golden State ultimately selected Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick, adding a versatile forward the organization believes can contribute immediately. Before the draft, team sources described Lendeborg as an “obvious fit” because of his size, defensive versatility and winning mentality, despite questions surrounding his age compared to other lottery prospects. Still, Slater's reporting illustrates how close the Warriors believed they came to drafting Burries. Kerr's reaction underscored the organization's confidence in the young guard and highlighted just how dramatically the draft board shifted after Milwaukee's unexpected decision.
Although Golden State remains optimistic about Lendeborg's future, Burries' selection by the Bucks will likely remain one of the defining “what if” moments of the Warriors' 2026 draft process.
