The Lakers’ season opener had the kind of edge that lingers after the final buzzer. Los Angeles handled the Golden State Warriors on opening night, but the game wasn’t just about the scoreboard. Luka Doncic and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg got into it on the floor, and the exchange carried over once the game was over.
Lendeborg didn’t soften his stance afterward. Speaking to reporters in his postgame press conference, he said he “lost all respect” for the reigning scoring champion after their heated back-and-forth.
Doncic, who has drawn criticism over the years for jawing at officials, has built a reputation for letting frustration spill over into his game. Last season, that habit caught up with him when he was assessed 16 technical fouls and triggered a one-game suspension. He has already acknowledged that he needs to cut down on the complaining, even if he felt Lendeborg was “talking crazy” in this case.
The exchange didn’t slow Doncic down on the floor. He scored a game-high 28 points in just 30 minutes, and the Lakers rolled to a 22-point win after leading by as many as 35.
Afterward, Doncic addressed the moment bluntly: "Everybody knows when somebody starts talking, you get a different me. So that was it.”- Luka Doncic on his exchange with Yaxel Lendeborg. 👀🔥(h/t @ohnohedidnt24) pic.twitter.com/aVBlO6Mzb9
Lendeborg later expanded on the confrontation, and he didn’t back away from what happened. For now, the rookie and Doncic have the feel of a pairing worth watching, with the next regular-season meeting set for Oct. 30 at the Chase Center.
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Lakers Let A Former First Round Pick Slip Into A Contenders Plans
Dalton Knechts time on the Lakers roster hit an unexpected pivot before the regular season trade deadline, when Los Angeles waived the former first-round pick after a potential deal never came together. The move came after head coach JJ Redick pointed to the way the roster and the teams needs had shifted, which helped explain why Knechts minutes had dropped as the season moved along.
Now that hes available, the interest has been immediate. Several teams have checked in on Knecht, including the New York Knicks, with the possibility of landing him on a two-way contract adding another layer to a situation that moved quickly once the Lakers decided to move on. For a player once seen as a notable part of the future, the next stop could come fast. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers May Need To Wait Briefly On A Rotation Surprise
Jake LaRavias first night in a Lakers rotation role ended early when he injured his ankle in the season opener against the Warriors, and the immediate fallout was an absence against the Clippers. For a team still sorting out its early-season depth, that was a frustrating pause after LaRavia had already shown some value, scoring 10 points in 18 minutes before leaving the game.
JJ Redick sounded upbeat about the longer view, though, and there is at least a chance the setback is brief. The Lakers are hopeful LaRavia could be back either on Oct. 25 against the Jazz or Oct. 27 against the Trail Blazers, which would let them keep building on a promising start rather than waiting too long to see how he fits into the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Center Search Keeps Pulling Mavericks Into An Uncomfortable Debate
The Lakers have already added Walker Kessler and Kevon Looney to their center rotation, but the search for more help in the middle still feels unfinished. Even with those moves, the team has continued to look around the market, explored trade talks for Jericho Sims and kept an eye on other big men who could deepen the frontcourt.
One name that keeps surfacing in the broader discussion is PJ Washington, a fit some analysts believe could complement the roster in ways the current group does not. It also keeps dragging the Mavericks into the conversation, which is where the debate gets uncomfortable, because any serious Lakers pursuit at center seems to open the door to questions about what kind of frontcourt balance they still need and how far theyre willing to go to get it. [Read more 🡒]