Yaxel Lendeborg’s winding path to the NBA reached its peak on Tuesday when the Golden State Warriors made him the No. 11 pick of this year’s draft. The 23-year-old forward, who needed his mother, Yissel Raposo, to guide him through tough times to stay in college, shared an emotional moment with his mom.
The former Michigan Wolverines star finally made it to the pros, expressing his emotions beside Raposo during an after-draft interview.
Tears Flow for Yaxel Lendeborg After Golden State Calls His Name at No. 11 in 2026 NBA Draft
The journey to the NBA was a difficult one for Lendeborg. ESPN’s Myron Medcalf called it the “most improbable tale” of this year’s draft.
The 6-foot-9 forward struggled academically, prompting his mother to steer him toward junior college in Arizona. He eventually played collegiate hoops for the UAB Blazers from 2023 to 2025.
Lendeborg applied for the 2025 NBA Draft but withdrew his name to take his talents to Michigan.
Under new Dallas Mavericks coach Dusty May, he helped the Wolverines win the 2026 NCAA men’s basketball championship. Lendeborg rose to being selected No. 11 by the Warriors.
Once his name was called, the years of pent-up emotions came rushing out as he shared a hug with his mother. During a chat with ESPN’s Lisa Salters, he described what he was going through.
“Every emotion possible. I don’t deserve to be here right now. … I can’t believe it,” Lendeborg said while his voice broke.
“I don’t deserve to be here right now. … I can’t believe it.”
Yaxel Lendeborg is full of emotions after getting drafted to the Golden State Warriors 🥹 pic.twitter.com/QkcXZrUxXK
— ESPN (@espn) June 24, 2026
While Lendeborg became a collegiate basketball star, Raposo kept her health concerns to herself so her son could focus on honing his skills.
In a piece for The Players’ Tribune written in February 2026, Lendeborg revealed that his mother has Stage 4 appendix cancer.
Despite the on- and off-court adversity, the mother-and-son tandem kept fighting. ESPN reported during the draft that Raposo “used to call him every NBA draft night to remind him that he could be on that same stage some day.”
While there was much emotion in Lendeborg’s name being called, the Warriors were quite methodical in drafting him. PFSN’s scouting report on the do-it-all forward provides insight on how he could contribute to the Bay Area team.
“Yaxel Lendeborg is a high-IQ, versatile forward with a relentless motor and outstanding defensive anticipation. At 6’9″ with a lengthy wingspan, he fills the stat sheet, rebounding at an elite rate, making plays as a connector on offense, and logging blocks and steals across multiple positions.”
“Lendeborg excels near the basket with a soft touch and strong frame, and shows flashes as a floor spacer and creative passer, though his shooting consistency is still a work in progress.”
The Warriors finished this past season with a 37-45 record for the No. 10 seed in the loaded Western Conference. Lendeborg can add more to his remarkable story by helping Stephen Curry and Co. compete better in the upcoming 2026-27 campaign.
