Steve Kerr saw plenty to like and plenty to teach after Yaxel Lendeborg’s NBA debut.
The rookie forward’s first assignment with the Golden State Warriors came against Luka Doncic, and it turned into a rough introduction to life in the league. Golden State fell to the Los Angeles Lakers, 127-105, on Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena, and Lendeborg’s night included a technical foul after he got into it with Doncic in the second quarter.
Lendeborg finished with 12 points, three rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes, but Kerr made it clear the bigger story was the education that came with the matchup.
“This was a great welcome-to-the-NBA game for him. Having to guard Luka, who is as tough to guard as anybody in the world.
Having to learn all the little tricks that exist in the NBA. He had three fouls that probably wouldn’t be fouls in any other league in the world.
But it's the NBA. He's gotta learn this stuff,” said Kerr in the video posted by The Athletic's Anthony Slater.
“It's his first game. He's an unbelievable young guy, great talent. It was a frustrating night for him, but a lesson well learned, and he'll get better from here.”
Kerr also said guarding Doncic was “not an easy way to start your career,” while suggesting the Lakers star caught a break in the back-and-forth with the rookie.
“He (Doncic) kind of lured him (Lendeborg) in a little bit. I thought the single technical was kind of ridiculous.
They were jawing at each other. I think it was the words Yaxel chose that got him the T, but then Luka made a half-court shot and got in his face.
Steve Kerr on Yaxel Lendeborg guarding Luka Doncic in his debut: “He had three fouls that probably wouldn’t be fouls in any other league in the world. But it’s the NBA. He’s gotta learn this stuff.”
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 22, 2026
Kerr didn’t like the technical on Yaxel and not Luka also: “Kind of ridiculous.” pic.twitter.com/SM87XvVY9Y
That should be a tech. Should've been a double tech.
That feels good, the rookie treatment,” said Kerr with a chuckle.
The Warriors’ next game is Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
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