According to Yaxel Lendeborg, there is no college stardom or NBA contract without his mother Yissel Raposo. He just paid her back accordingly.
The Golden State Warriors rookie accomplished a “lifelong goal” recently by surprising his mother with a new house, documenting the reveal in a YouTube video titled “This one’s for Mama Yax.” Raposo is overcome with emotion upon being told “Welcome home,” fighting tears as she walks to the doorway.
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Lendeborg reveals in the video that securing the home took two to three months.
Lendeborg’s statement in the video:
“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. 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.”
The 24-year-old isn’t overstating the impact his mother, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 appendix cancer last year, had on him.
As Lendeborg recalled in an article for The Players’ Tribune in February, titled “How My Mom Saved My Life”, there was a time he was struggling through high school to the point where he wasn’t just academically ineligible for the basketball team, but at risk of failing to graduate.
He says Raposo pushed him to complete a heavy workload of courses at a local community college, which allowed him to play basketball in his senior year. She then quietly arranged to get him a spot in a showcase for Dominican players, leading to an offer from Arizona Western College, which she made him take despite his significant reservations.
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What followed was a wild success story in the transfer-heavy world of modern college basketball. Lendeborg starred at Arizona Western, transferred to UAB and excelled there, then joined Michigan for a single season. He was the leading scorer for a historically good Wolverines team, winning an NCAA title, All-American honors and the Big Ten Player of the Year award.
Despite being one of the older players in his draft class, the Warriors selected Lendeborg 12th overall. His mom was there, of course, and they shared an emotional moment once his name was called.
Lendeborg’s NBA career is already off to a strong start. His 21.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game are both second in his draft class, while his 4.1 assists per game rank fourth. He is among the favorites for the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
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After an 0-3 start, the Warriors have won six straight games.
