Draymond Green didn’t flinch when asked about the dustup between rookie Yaxel Lendeborg and Luka Doncic. If anything, the Warriors veteran leaned into it.
Green backed his teammate after Lendeborg went at the Los Angeles Lakers star during the rookie’s debut, saying he had no problem with a young player taking that kind of stand. In the locker room, Green made it clear he didn’t buy the idea that Lendeborg should have stayed quiet because Doncic is an established name.
“Everybody's gonna be like, ‘Oh man, he shouldn't talk to Luka,” Green said. “You should not talk to Luka.
And I disagree with that shit, 1,000%. You fuc*** go and talk to somebody.
You talk until you can't fuc**** talk no more.
“And if he busts your a**, guess what? You play him again three more times, and you go back at his a** again. And then you see him the third time, and you go back at his a** again.”
The exchange didn’t start and end on the court, either. After the game, Lendeborg doubled down in his postgame press conference, saying he had lost all respect for Doncic after facing him in his first regular-season NBA game.
Stephen Curry also sided with the rookie, praising the competitive edge Lendeborg showed.
“So he's setting the table for himself to have to show up, and I like that nature of the game, whether you do it in between your ears or you let it out, I know he'll be able to back it up,” Curry said.
The night still ended with the Warriors taking the loss, falling 125-107 to the Lakers. Lendeborg’s debut did include a solid stat line despite the defeat, as he scored 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting and grabbed three rebounds.
Golden State, now 0-1, turns right around and faces the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday.
In Other News...
Steve Kerr Had A Blunt Take On Warriors Rookies Tough Debut
Yaxel Lendeborgs NBA debut came with no easing-in period, as the Warriors rookie was thrown into the kind of assignment that can define a first impression. Against the Lakers, he was tasked with guarding Luka Doncic, and he handled a heavy workload with 12 points, three rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes while navigating all the noise that comes with being matched up against one of the leagues toughest stars.
Steve Kerr viewed it as part of the learning curve for a young player being asked to defend at that level right away, and he also had a candid read on the technical foul Lendeborg picked up after trash-talking Doncic. For Golden State, the debut served as a reminder of how quickly rookies can be tested in real NBA minutes, and how little margin there is for error when the opponent is a player of Doncics caliber. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Face A Costly Win-Now Decision At Center
The Warriors are once again staring at a familiar roster question, this time in the middle of their search for more size and stability at center. Reports say Golden State has explored trade possibilities involving Kristaps Porzingis and Myles Turner, with talks having even included the Bucks, a sign the front office is at least testing the market for a major upgrade. The appeal is obvious: both players would change the look of the frontcourt and address a need that has lingered for some time.
The cost, however, is the part that makes this more than a simple deadline-style inquiry. Adding Turner would mean giving up draft capital, another player, and some future flexibility because of his contract, which puts the Warriors in the middle of the same win-now versus long-term debate that has shaped so many of their recent decisions. Milwaukees reported lack of interest only adds another layer to the uncertainty, leaving Golden State to weigh how much it is willing to sacrifice for a move that could alter both the present season and what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Rookie Just Turned Opening Night Into A Luka Debate
Yaxel Lendeborgs rookie debut for the Warriors already had enough attention attached to it after Golden States loss to the Lakers, but the postgame stage quickly shifted the conversation. The first-year guard, who scored 12 points in his first NBA game, was whistled for a technical foul after an on-court exchange with Luka Doncic, then made his feelings plain afterward about the Lakers stars style of play.
Doncic went on to lead all scorers with 28 points, but the bigger aftertaste from the opener was Lendeborgs blunt critique in the locker room area. For a player trying to settle into his first season, it was an unusually sharp entrance into one of the leagues biggest rivalries, and it leaves the Warriors with a rookie already willing to speak his mind on a stage where every word tends to travel fast. [Read more 🡒]