Yaxel Lendeborg’s NBA debut came with a wintry kind of frustration for the Warriors, and it didn’t take long for that frustration to spill over onto Luka Doncic.
Golden State opened the season with a 127-105 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, and afterward the rookie didn’t hide how much the matchup stuck with him. In his postgame press conference, Lendeborg said Doncic’s behavior changed the way he saw him.
“I had a lot of respect for him [Luka Doncic], but being in there firsthand, watching all the whining and complaining, I lost all respect for him,” Lendeborg said.
The exchange between the two also carried onto the court, where the rookie and the Lakers star got into it during the game. That moment only added fuel to what had already become a charged night for Lendeborg.
Draymond Green backed his young teammate afterward and didn’t leave much room for debate about whether Lendeborg should have pushed back.
“Everybody’s gonna be like, ‘Oh, man, he should not talk shit to Luka, and I disagree with that shit 1000%. You f*** gonna talk to somebody, you talk until you can’t f*** talk no more,’” Green said.
Even with the bad taste left by the loss and the confrontation, Lendeborg had his moments on Doncic defensively. The Lakers guard still poured in 23 points in the first half, but Lendeborg was the only Warrior who consistently made things uncomfortable for him. Per ESPN’s tracking data, Doncic scored just two points and missed all four of his shots when Lendeborg was the primary defender in half-court situations during that first half.
Lendeborg finished with 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting, plus three rebounds, two assists and one steal, in a night that mixed promise, irritation and a rough final score for Golden State.
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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 🡒]
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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 Sent A Message To Luka And Vets Loved It
Yaxel Lendeborg did not spend his first NBA game blending into the background. In his debut for the Warriors, the rookie found himself jawing with Luka Doncic on the court, a moment that fit the edge Golden State has long valued in its younger players. He also backed it up with a solid outing, finishing with 12 points and three rebounds even as the Warriors came up short against the Lakers.
Draymond Green and Stephen Curry both publicly had Lendeborgs back afterward, a notable sign of approval from two veterans who know plenty about competitiveness crossing the line into something more. For a rookie trying to establish himself in a locker room built around intensity and accountability, that kind of support matters. It also leaves the intriguing question of how far Lendeborg can carry that confidence the next time the lights get a little brighter. [Read more 🡒]