Even after reaching the biggest stage in basketball, Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg still struggles to believe how far he has come. After hearing his name called as the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Lendeborg reacted not with entitlement, but with gratitude. His first instinct was to acknowledge how unlikely this moment once seemed.
Key highlights
- Yaxel Lendeborg was selected No. 11 overall by the Golden State Warriors, signing a four-year, $28 million deal and earning a locker room spot alongside Stephen Curry.
- The Dominican Republic native’s journey included three seasons at JUCO level before eventually becoming Big Ten Player of the Year and a first-team All-American with Michigan.
- Lendeborg credits his mother Yissel Raposo for shaping his mindset after watching her work multiple jobs, including 12-hour warehouse shifts, Uber driving and church cleaning to support the family.
- From a struggling teenager ready to quit to an NBA first-round pick, Lendeborg’s rise was built on sacrifice, resilience and the belief his mother always had in him.
“We don’t feel like we belong here”: Lendeborg’s humble NBA arrival
For Lendeborg, standing in San Francisco as a first-round NBA selection was beyond anything his family imagined when they left their roots in the Dominican Republic. But while he views the opportunity as a blessing, his journey also tells another story: one of hard work, sacrifice and perseverance.
From overlooked prospect to Warriors first-round pick
Before becoming one of college basketball’s biggest stars, he spent three years at the JUCO level, grinding for recognition before earning his opportunity at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. After two seasons at UAB, he continued his rise, eventually transferring to Michigan, where he became one of the best players in the country.
He was named Big Ten Player of the Year, earned first-team All-American honours, and helped lead Michigan to a national championship. The player who once wondered if he belonged in certain rooms eventually earned his place among the league’s elite — including the chance to share a franchise with Warriors icon Stephen Curry.
The woman behind the journey: Yissel Raposo’s endless sacrifices
To truly understand Lendeborg’s rise, it starts with his mother, Yissel Raposo. Long before her son became an NBA player, Raposo was fighting to create opportunities for her children.
Lendeborg watched his mother work exhausting schedules, including 12-hour warehouse shifts at VoiceComm, where she moved electronics through physically demanding jobs. She drove for Uber. She cleaned churches on weekends. She took on whatever work was necessary to raise her four children.
For Lendeborg, those memories became the foundation of his mentality. “When I was there, it was really 12-hour shifts. I’m like, ‘Man. This is hard labor.’ And she’s been doing this for, like, 12 years.”
His mother’s work ethic came from her own upbringing in Santo Domingo, where her parents taught her the importance of resilience and responsibility. That same mindset eventually became the blueprint for her son.
His mother built the opportunity — Lendeborg built the legacy
Raposo did everything she could to open doors for her son. She signed him up for showcases, contacted coaches, sent emails and made calls to help him find opportunities that were not coming his way. Eventually, she pushed him toward Arizona Western College, where his basketball journey truly began.
Across three seasons, he played 78 games, averaging 17.2 points and 13 rebounds in his final season. That earned him a scholarship opportunity at UAB, where he averaged 15.8 points and 11 rebounds over 72 games, earning first-team conference honours in both seasons.
Five years of grinding transformed an overlooked prospect into an NBA first-round selection. “Those low points definitely helped me out. I learned so much through those processes, as well, and I came out stronger than ever.”
A basketball legacy passed through generations
Lendeborg’s love for sports also came from his family history. His mother was once an accomplished athlete herself, representing the Dominican Republic in basketball and volleyball while also playing professionally. She continued competing while pregnant with Yaxel, before eventually stepping away from sports to focus on raising her family.
Her own father, Antonio de Jesús, introduced her to athletics and passed down that competitive spirit. Lendeborg also carries the influence of his maternal grandfather, who introduced him to baseball and helped spark his passion for sports.
When Lendeborg played at Michigan, his mother remained his biggest supporter from the stands. Even in crowded arenas, he could recognise her voice — the same voice that pushed him forward throughout his journey.
This NBA dream belongs to both mother and son
Today, Raposo watches her son achieve the dream they once thought was impossible. The attention surrounding Lendeborg’s draft selection has even made her joke that she feels like a celebrity. But behind the celebrations is a story of sacrifice. Even while undergoing chemotherapy for Stage 4 appendix cancer, Raposo remained determined to support her son.
For Lendeborg, she is more than a parent. She is the reason he kept going. And now, as he begins his journey with the Warriors, Yaxel Lendeborg is not just carrying his own dream — he is carrying his mother’s too.
