In the 2026 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors selected forward Yaxel Lendeborg from Michigan. Lendeborg is coming off a season in which he helped Michigan win the 2026 National Championship, and now he joins a team that has veterans with a lot of championship experience. 

Yaxel Lendeborg was raised in New Jersey, so this will be a new experience for him, staying in Northern California full time. While he clearly has a passion for basketball, Lendeborg revealed his other interests aside from the sport. 

Yaxel Lendeborg told Bleacher Report that acting was something he had enjoyed ever since he was in high school. He mentioned he acted in an 'Elf' play in high school and wanted to pursue theater in college. 

Obviously, for Lendeborg, basketball got in the way during college, so he had to pivot in terms of what he studied, but acting was a clear interest and hobby for him. 

"I would love to be an actor," Lendeborg said. "When I'm in San Francisco, hopefully I can find some little gig to get on, and hopefully somebody can put me in a movie."

Luckily for him, San Francisco and the state of California are filled with good acting schools that Lendeborg could learn from if he chooses to invest in his hobby. 

Yaxel Lendeborg would not be the only NBA player who's thought about stepping foot in Hollywood. Big names like Ray Allen, LeBron James, and Kyrie Irving have all been in popular movies and played big roles. 

Irving got his gig through his viral Pepsi commercials, where he played the character of 'Uncle Drew.' The character is an older man who plays pickup basketball. Opposing players who are younger than him don't suspect him to be good when they go against him, he shows off his skills and beats everyone he faces. 

Ray Allen is best known for his role in Spike Lee's film, "He Got Game," which came out in 1998. Allen played the role of Jesus Shuttlesworth, who was a highly touted high school basketball player who had a tough time dealing with his father while facing the pressures everyone put on him to have a successful basketball career. 

Yaxel Lendeborg could be next in line to get a big gig simply by starring in commercials with the companies he signs with as his NBA career progresses. If one thing led to another, he could see himself on the big screen one day.