LOS ANGELES — Following his first career regular-season game, Golden State Warriors rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg did not hold back his feelings about Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic.
After the Lakers defeated the Warriors 127-105 on Wednesday night, Lendeborg told reporters that he entered the contest admiring Doncic from afar, but walked away deeply disillusioned by the six-time All-NBA guard’s interactions with referees.
“Being in there firsthand, and just watching all the whining and the complaining, I lost all respect, man,” Lendeborg said at the postgame podium, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. “Like, that was awful.”
Tense exchanges on the floor
Lendeborg, selected by Golden State with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2026 draft, drew the challenging assignment of defending Doncic because injuries sidelined Warriors forwards Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody. Throughout the game, the 24-year-old rookie used his physical frame to press Doncic full-court, leading to multiple heated verbal spats.
The tension peaked during the second quarter when Doncic drew a foul with an up-fake, prompting visible celebration from the Lakers star and open agitation from Lendeborg. Moments later, after Lendeborg was whistled for an off-ball foul, the rookie shouted toward Doncic from across the court and was assessed a technical foul.
“I was telling him — he sucks!” Lendeborg said after the game. “He can’t score on me. You’re talking, you can’t score on me. I said it the whole game. I said a couple cuss words, obviously. That’s why I got a technical.”
Doncic finished the night with 28 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals, NBC Sports reported. In an on-court television interview, Doncic said, “Everybody knows when somebody starts talking, you got a different me.”
Addressing the dustup at his locker, Doncic noted that the Warriors rookie was “talking crazy,” according to Bleacher Report. The Lakers guard added that he intentionally avoided jawing back so he would not receive a technical foul himself.
Warriors veterans back rookie’s fire
Despite the lopsided 22-point loss, Lendeborg showed defensive promise in his debut. According to game footage reviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle, Doncic went just 1-of-5 on shots where Lendeborg served as the primary defender, with the lone make being a half-court bank shot before halftime. Offensively, Lendeborg scored 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting, adding three rebounds, two assists and a steal with zero turnovers.
Lendeborg’s combative posture also earned quick approval from his own teammates and coaches. Veteran forward Draymond Green said in the locker room that he fully supported Lendeborg talking trash to Doncic and continuing to go after him in future meetings.
“I love confidence,” Warriors guard Stephen Curry told reporters. “I love that care and passion. And from what I’ve seen from him, it’s about just playing basketball. It’s not about anything else other than the competitiveness. So, he’s setting the table for himself to have to show up, and I like that.”
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr also said he enjoyed the competitive back-and-forth between the rookie and the perennial MVP candidate, according to the Chronicle.
What happens next
Lendeborg and the Warriors will face high-scoring perimeter assignments quickly as their schedule unfolds, including matchups against Phoenix’s Devin Booker on Saturday and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards on Monday.
Lendeborg will not have to wait long for another chance against Doncic either. The Warriors host the Lakers for a rematch at Chase Center on Oct. 30.
