Yaxel Lendeborg’s first real stumble as a pro came in a spotlight game he had been waiting for.
The Warriors rookie admitted he didn’t handle Friday’s matchup with the Lakers and Luka Doncic the way he wanted, and he didn’t sugarcoat it after Golden State’s 112-95 comeback win. Asked about his biggest takeaway six games into the NBA season, Lendeborg said he’ll "try not to wet the bed as bad as I did," according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater.
It was a rough night for the Michigan product. Against Doncic, Lendeborg finished with six points and five turnovers in what had been billed as a highly anticipated showdown. He said the answer in those moments is to trust the people around him more.
"When you're having moments like that, try to lean in on your teammates a little more," Lendeborg added. "I tried talking to them, but ... I couldn't get myself out of it."
That made the game even more notable because Lendeborg had taken aim at Doncic just last week, saying he had lost respect for the Lakers star after growing frustrated with Doncic’s habit of complaining to officials.
Doncic answered with a huge night of his own, pouring in a game-high 37 points after a fast start.
Even with Friday’s struggles, Lendeborg has been one of the league’s most productive rookies so far. He leads the Warriors in rebounding at 7.8 per game, and his 19.8 points per contest rank second on the team behind Stephen Curry’s 29.2. His 87 points through his first four games were the most by a Warriors rookie since Wilt Chamberlain in 1959.
Curry, meanwhile, carried the load while Lendeborg tried to work through his toughest night yet. The 12-time All-Star posted 31 points, six assists and four rebounds as Golden State erased a 25-point deficit.
Afterward, Curry made it clear he expects Lendeborg to respond.
"We have his back through all of that, and knowing that the next game, we're going to need him," Curry said, according to Slater. "It's all about the theme of him learning trial by fire, going through the ups and downs in front of everybody. It's a tough demand, but I think he's built for it."
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