Yaxel Almost LOST Everything To Video Games 😳🏀

Yaxel Lendeborg went from nearly throwing his future away in high school to becoming one of the NBA's biggest breakout rookies with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Growing up in Pennsauken, New Jersey, Yaxel struggled with terrible grades, skipped out on his responsibilities, and spent hours playing PlayStation and Madden with his friends instead of focusing on school or basketball. His grades became so bad that he wasn't even eligible to play high school basketball for much of his career. Everything changed one night when his mother, Yissel Raposo, picked him up after another late-night gaming session and had an emotional conversation with him about his future. Seeing his mom crying and realizing how much she had sacrificed for him changed Yaxel's life forever. He promised to turn things around, took 10 community college classes to get back on track, and eventually earned his way back onto the basketball court. From Pennsauken High School to Arizona Western College, UAB Blazers basketball, and the Michigan Wolverines, Lendeborg went from an overlooked prospect to a college basketball superstar, Big Ten Player of the Year, All-American, and NCAA National Champion. His incredible underdog journey eventually led him to the 2026 NBA Draft, where the Golden State Warriors selected him with the 11th overall pick. Now playing alongside Steph Curry in the NBA, Yaxel Lendeborg is already making history, dropping a career-high 31 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists against the Denver Nuggets, becoming the first Warriors rookie since Stephen Curry in 2010 to record 30+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 5+ assists in a game. Averaging over 21 points per game to start the 2026-27 NBA season, Lendeborg has quickly emerged as an NBA Rookie of the Year contender and one of the most exciting young players in basketball. From almost losing his chance at a future to living his NBA dream, Yaxel Lendeborg's inspirational comeback story proves how one conversation, a mother's belief, and years of hard work can change everything.
Credits: NBA 🏀 NBA On ESPN 🏀 ESPN 🏀 Golden State Warriors 🏀 CBS Sports 🏀 Big Ten Network 🏀 Michigan Wolverwines 🏀
Song: Drake - She Will
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