The Golden State Warriors' season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers was supposed to be about basketball. Instead, it turned into a war of words between a rookie and a superstar, with Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg declaring he has zero respect left for Luka Doncic.
Lendeborg, making his NBA debut, spent much of the night guarding Doncic and jawing with him at Crypto.com Arena. When it was over, the rookie didn't hold back in his assessment of the five-time All-Star.
“I had a lot of respect for him [because] I didn’t really watch the NBA much. I just watched highlights and seen him kill people,” Lendeborg told reporters. “But being in it firsthand and seeing all the whining and complaining, I lost all respect. That was awful. Like me getting frustrated, it’s not about the foul being called, it’s about him complaining the entire game. And then you get the foul call – congratulations. Then you talk to me like you did something great. C’mon, dog. That s— is weak. It kind of threw me off because I have so much respect for him. Gone, man. Gone.”
The rookie also revealed the trash talk he directed at Doncic during the game. “He can’t score on me. You talk but you can’t score on me. I said it the whole game. I said a couple cuss words, obviously. That’s why I got the technical. But I was letting him know.”
Doncic finished with 28 points in the Lakers' 127-105 victory, but ESPN's tracking stats show he went just 1-of-6 from the field when Lendeborg was the primary defender. That stat line didn't stop Doncic from responding to Lendeborg's comments after the game.
“He was talking crazy,” Doncic said. “But I wasn’t trying to talk back. This season, I’m not trying to get techs.”
The two teams will meet again on Oct. 30 at the Chase Center, and Lendeborg is already looking forward to the rematch. “We’ll see him again,” he said. “I’ll be ready.”
This isn't the first time a rookie has taken on a veteran star, but it's rare to see such a direct challenge so early. The NBA has seen its share of feuds, and this one could be just getting started. For now, Lendeborg's comments have certainly added some spice to the Warriors-Lakers rivalry, which already has plenty of history.
As the season unfolds, it will be interesting to see if Lendeborg can back up his words on the court. His defensive effort against Doncic was impressive, but the Lakers walked away with the win. The next meeting could be even more heated, and fans will be watching closely.
For now, Lendeborg's blunt honesty has made him a polarizing figure in the league. Some will appreciate his competitive fire, while others might see it as disrespect. Either way, he's made it clear he's not backing down.
