Golden State Warriors Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg Buys Home for His Mother

Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg surprised his mother, Yissel Raposo, with a newly purchased home funded by his first professional basketball earnings, as USA Today reported.

The 24-year-old forward documented the surprise on his new YouTube channel in a video released on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. Lendeborg handed his mother a box containing the keys outside the California property, moving her from New Jersey. It took Lendeborg 2 to 3 months to finalize the house.

On behalf of everybody that came to show up, welcome home, Lendeborg told Raposo, appearing noticeably more tense than during his largest NBA appearances and admitting, Now I’m nervous, before delivering the words his mother had seemingly waited a lifetime to hear.

The Minivan Conversation

According to USA Today, Lendeborg has frequently credited Raposo with saving his basketball career after he struggled academically and spent long hours playing video games as a teenager.

Long before his college career, his draft selection, and his initial successes at Golden State, today’s NBA professional experienced major difficulties finding a direction for his life, often skipping classes and spending countless hours playing video games as his potential seemed to fade further into the background. During his final year in high school, Raposo broke down in tears inside their Minivan to confront him about his future.

That conversation served as a turning point. Raposo helped him repair his grades and steered him toward Arizona Western College, all while working two or three jobs to support her children.

Draft Success and on-Court Impact

Lendeborg played three seasons at Arizona Western College, went to the UAB, and later transferred to Michigan, where he won a national championship. The Golden State Warriors selected him with the eleventh pick in the June 2026 NBA Draft.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr praised the rookie’s gesture on Nov. 7 before a game against the Orlando Magic. Just such a heartwarming moment, Kerr said, according to USA Today. It’s life-changing for these guys to make the NBA. Kerr also stated, I saw it this morning, and added that it is Life-changing for them and their families. Taking care of his family. Furthermore, Kerr called the gesture incredible.

Through his first 10 games of the 2026–27 NBA season, Lendeborg averages 21.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. The Warriors extended their winning streak to seven games following a 126-119 victory against the Orlando Magic at Chase Center in San Francisco. His early professional performances also include scoring 37 points against the Los Angeles Clippers, and recording 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals against Miami.

Family Sacrifices and Cancer Battle

Lendeborg noted that We have actually had to struggle our whole lives, explaining that his mother had to take on two or three jobs just to be able to provide for the family. Raposo also battled Stage 4 appendix cancer, which serves as an additional source of motivation for the rookie. She put her whole life on hold for my life and I’m super proud of her for fighting so hard and I’m glad we get to share this moment together, Lendeborg stated in a June interview following the draft.

He also explained the driving philosophy behind his actions: There is no gesture big enough to properly say thank you for all the love, sacrifice, and support my mom has poured into me but this moment was pretty special and one I’ll never forget, adding, She deserves it all. For me, it’s bigger than basketball. It’s about making sure the people who believed in me get to enjoy the blessings too. Reflecting further on his journey after being drafted in June, Lendeborg stated, I got here because of her. She pushed a dream, forced me to go out there and step into the world and become a man. I had no choice but to go out there and do the best I could. So I vowed every day to be a better man, be a better person and just do the best I can for her.

More on this story: Yaxel Lendeborg spent his very first professional basketball paycheck on a house for his mother

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