Warriors Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg Surprises Mom With New House After NBA Success

Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is making sure the woman who helped him achieve his NBA dreams gets to enjoy the rewards of his success.

On Friday (November 6), Lendeborg shared an emotional video revealing that he purchased a new home in California for his mother, Yissel Raposo, fulfilling a lifelong dream of giving back to the person who sacrificed so much for him.

The video, titled "This One's for Mama Yax," was uploaded to the rookie's newly launched YouTube channel and captured the moment he surprised his mother with the keys to her new home.

Standing outside the house alongside several family members, Lendeborg appeared overwhelmed as he prepared to deliver the surprise. "I'm nervous now," he admitted while holding a gift box.

When the moment finally arrived, Lendeborg welcomed his mother to her new home. "On behalf of everybody that came to show up, welcome home," he told Raposo before inviting her inside to "test it out."

Lendeborg later celebrated the milestone on X, writing: "Lifelong goal has finally been accomplished. Blessed!"

The gesture carries even more significance considering everything Raposo has endured while raising her son and supporting his basketball career.

According to The Athletic, Raposo, a former Dominican Republic national team basketball player, worked multiple jobs to provide for her family, including shifts at a warehouse. She also played a major role in Lendeborg's development, helping guide his educational and basketball decisions.

In February, Lendeborg opened up about his mother's battle with Stage 4 appendix cancer in a personal essay for The Players' Tribune titled "How My Mom Saved My Life."

Raposo underwent chemotherapy treatments but reportedly arranged her schedule so she could attend Michigan's NCAA tournament games and support her son.

Her sacrifices weren't lost on Lendeborg when the Warriors selected him with the No. 11 pick in June's NBA Draft.

"That kid got here because of her. She pushed a dream, forced me to go out there and step into the world and then become a man," Lendeborg said on draft night. "This is the least I can do for her."

Raposo also reflected on her son's journey, saying: "It's a dream come true for us... I think he deserves it because he sacrificed a lot."

Lendeborg's road to the NBA included stops at Arizona Western, UAB, and Michigan, where he earned Big Ten Player of the Year honors and helped lead the Wolverines to a national championship.

The rookie has since made an immediate impact in Golden State, averaging 21 points per game through nine starts. He also dropped 37 points against the Los Angeles Clippers, the highest scoring performance by a Warriors rookie since Stephen Curry's 2009-10 season.